ASHLEY COOK
Midland,GA
Summary
Successful professional with several years of experience finding, screening and attracting applicants to open positions. Polished in conducting background and reference checks and performing direct or phone interviews with potential employees. Personable and diplomatic professional possessing refined negotiation and communication skills paired with in-depth knowledge of recruitment development.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Captain
Columbus State University
Columbus, GA
10.2025 - Current
- Supervised daily patrol activities and ensured compliance with safety protocols.
- Coordinated training programs for new patrol officers to enhance skills and ensure effective service delivery.
- Managed incident response procedures and communicated effectively with emergency services.
- Developed schedules for patrol shifts to optimize coverage and resource allocation.
- Collaborated with law enforcement agencies to enhance community safety initiatives.
- Implemented crime prevention strategies through community engagement initiatives to foster safer neighborhoods.
- Evaluated reports from patrol officers to identify trends and improve operational effectiveness.
- Provided leadership during emergency situations such as natural disasters or civil disturbances.
- Supervised the development of tactical plans for special events such as sporting matches or festivals.
- Assisted in developing budgets for patrol operations including personnel, supplies, vehicles.
- Responded promptly to requests from senior management regarding operational matters.
- Monitored and evaluated performance of subordinate officers to ensure compliance with departmental policies and procedures.
Lieutenant Patrol/Support Services/Administrative Services
Columbus State University Police Department
Columbus, GA
01.2021 - 10.2025
- Managed community relations and departmental social media platforms to enhance public engagement and promote departmental initiatives.
- Conducted CVSA testing for criminal investigations and hiring processes.
- Managed recruitment processes to identify top talent for various departments.
- Collaborated with department heads to understand staffing needs and requirements.
- Conducted interviews and evaluated candidates for cultural fit and skills.
- Trained hiring teams on best practices in interviewing and candidate evaluation.
- Streamlined onboarding processes to enhance new employee integration experiences.
- Maintained applicant tracking system to ensure accurate candidate records.
- Managed the full cycle of recruitment process including sourcing, interviewing, screening and selection of candidates.
- Received and reviewed candidate resume and job application submissions to approve or deny applicants for initial interviews.
- Provided feedback to candidates throughout the hiring process.
- Attended career fairs, college events, industry conferences. to promote the organization's brand as an employer of choice.
- Developed and maintained job postings, recruitment strategies, and applicant tracking systems.
- Conducted background checks and reference checks on potential hires.
- Created interview questionnaires, job descriptions and advertisements, pre-screening protocols and post-interview assessments.
- Cultivated and maintained relationships and ongoing communication with potential job candidates.
- Developed and managed recruitment process, sourcing candidates each year to fill key positions.
- Developed employee orientation and training programs for new hires.
- Handled employee discipline and termination to address policy infractions.
- Aligned HR policies with federal and local regulations.
- Scheduled random drug tests for employees to mitigate compliance risks.
Detective, Criminal Investigations Unit
Columbus State University Police Department
01.2019 - 01.2021
- CONDUCTED complex investigations, interviews, interrogations, and undercover operations to gather critical evidence and support case resolutions.
- MANAGED evidence intake and maintained custody to ensure integrity and availability for legal proceedings.
- OPERATED SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT CASE DEVELOPMENT.
- MENTORED officers as field training officer in patrol and investigations units, enhancing skills and knowledge transfer.
- Developed social media engagement strategies to enhance community interaction.
- Conducted hiring and background investigations.
Corporal, Patrol Division
Columbus State University Police Department
01.2014 - 01.2019
- Delivered frontline law enforcement services, managed emergency response, and fostered community policing initiatives.
- Promoted to corporal, supported supervisory duties, and contributed to officer development programs.
- Completed day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Contributed innovative ideas and solutions to enhance team performance and outcomes.
- Worked successfully with diverse group of coworkers to accomplish goals and address issues related to our products and services.
Officer, Patrol Division
Columbus Police Department
01.2010 - 01.2014
- Responded to emergency calls and initiated investigations to assess situations and gather evidence.
- Collaborated with specialized units, including burglary and theft unit, to coordinate responses and share critical information.
- Enforced laws and regulations to maintain public safety and order.
- Responded to emergency calls, providing timely assistance to citizens.
- Conducted investigations into criminal activities and incidents.
Education
BBA - Management-Human Resources Concentration
Columbus State University
Columbus, GA04-2026
Master of Public Safety - Administration
Columbus State University
Columbus, GABachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Columbus State University
Columbus, GASkills
- Effective communication
- Team building
- Employee training
- Recruitment strategies
- New hire orientations
- Applicant assessment and vetting
- Candidate relations
- Social media recruiting
- Recruitment marketing
- Employment verification
- Verbal and written communication
- Job offer development
- Training and onboarding
- Pre-employment screening
Certification
- CERTIFIED VOICE STRESS ANALYZER
- FIELD TRAINING OFFICER
- MANAGERIAL CERTIFICATION
Recoginition
- Recognized for outstanding service and leadership, including being named Officer of the Year in 2020 and receiving Officer of the Month honors in both 2014 and 2019 by the Columbus State University Police Department.
- Awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for dedication and accuracy during a comprehensive 15-year Property & Evidence audit.
- Demonstrated strong community engagement skills by leading a successful social media initiative, increasing Facebook reach by 49.4% (+75,122) and Instagram reach by 29.9% (+1,269) within seven months.
- Played a key role in a high-profile burglary investigation through collaboration with the Columbus Police Department's Burglary and Theft Unit. This joint effort led to the recovery of approximately $50,000 in stolen property, the clearance of 27 charges, and the execution of a successful search warrant. The investigation resulted in the resolution of multiple cases shared between CPD and CSUPD.
Professional Development
Demonstrated a strong commitment to continuous professional growth through the successful completion of numerous advanced training and leadership programs designed to enhance effectiveness in law enforcement, supervision, and community engagement. Participated in LeadCSU (2022), a comprehensive campus-wide leadership development program aimed at strengthening the skills of emerging leaders within the university system. Further enhanced leadership capabilities through The Guardian's Path (2023), a nationally recognized program by Guardian Leadership, focused on cultivating accountability, ethical leadership, and emotional intelligence in public safety professionals. Received specialized instruction in Georgia Internal Affairs Investigator's Training, equipping me with the tools to conduct thorough, fair, and legally sound internal investigations. Completed the Georgia Resiliency Program, which provided valuable strategies for managing stress, improving mental wellness, and fostering resilience in high-stakes environments. Additional professional development includes training in Sexual Assault Investigations, with a focus on trauma-informed approaches; Interviews and Interrogations, enhancing skills in information gathering and suspect interaction; Search and Seizure, emphasizing constitutional law and procedural compliance; and Crisis Intervention, preparing for effective de-escalation and response to individuals in mental health crises. Together, these experiences reflect a well-rounded and strategically developed skill set that supports both operational excellence and strong community-oriented policing.
Accomplishments
Officer of the Year 2020
Timeline
Captain
Columbus State University
10.2025 - Current
Lieutenant Patrol/Support Services/Administrative Services
Columbus State University Police Department
01.2021 - 10.2025
Detective, Criminal Investigations Unit
Columbus State University Police Department
01.2019 - 01.2021
Corporal, Patrol Division
Columbus State University Police Department
01.2014 - 01.2019
Officer, Patrol Division
Columbus Police Department
01.2010 - 01.2014
BBA - Management-Human Resources Concentration
Columbus State University
Master of Public Safety - Administration
Columbus State University
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Columbus State University