Kindergarten students often rush up to the police officers they see just to say “hi” or even “thank you.” Many want to dress as police officers and look to them as role models. 

Cobb Schools Police Lt. Mike Wilson has dedicated his career to building and maintaining strong relationships with students, ensuring those connections grow as they transition from elementary to middle school and eventually step onto a high school campus for the first time.

 That’s why the long-serving police officer helped start and grow the “Concerned COPS Program” in schools. 

As part of the mentoring program, police officers, like Lt. Wilson, have helped students develop skills to better communicate with persons of authority. 

“I feel that I can make a difference in some of these kids’ lives. It is my desire to teach as many as I can about life. The school district gives me that opportunity,” explained Lt. Wilson. 

Through the mentoring program, Lt. Wilson aimed to help students realize the lasting effects their actions can have on their opportunities and relationships. 

His goal has been to establish an open dialogue with all students and answer their questions, furthering the students' and community's confidence in public safety officials. Lt. Wilson and his fellow officers have mentored hundreds of students in addition to the daily relationships they build with students. 

“Our Concerned Cops Program is one small way that we can give something to the kids we serve and protect,” the veteran police officer added. 

Mentoring students has provided Lt. Wilson with many fond memories. Over the years, the veteran officer has prided himself on successfully reaching and forming meaningful relationships with young people who faced challenges, including those linked to gangs. 

Before joining the Cobb Schools Police Department, Lt. Wilson served with the Atlanta Police Department, where he saw firsthand the tragic and sometimes fatal outcomes that result from young people’s poor choices. He committed himself to stopping that from happening to the Cobb students he met. 

Following his retirement from Atlanta PD, he considered becoming a teacher, inspired by his wife’s decades of service in Cobb Schools. His goal was to give back to the district his own children attended. 

However, instead of spending time in front of a class of students, Lt. Wilson discovered his path to helping students was to join the Cobb Schools Police Department, where he could build positive relationships with them. 

He served as a campus police officer at Wheeler High School and Harrison High School before transitioning to the Cobb Schools Police Department headquarters. Because he wanted to maintain a direct connection with students, he helped develop Cobb’s Concerned Cops Program to mentor students across the school district. 

For his mentoring work, the veteran Cobb Schools police officer was nominated for the Cobb Chamber’s 2019 Public Safety Award and recognized during the Chamber’s Public Safety Appreciation breakfast. 

According to his nomination, “Lieutenant Michael Wilson is a perfect example of what an outstanding leader should represent. He promotes a positive example… He is supportive of his peers and is eager to assist or find solutions to all issues that may arise.” 

Part of Lt. Wilson’s success with students is due to his ability to build relationships. It’s a skill that dates to his time with the Atlanta PD, where he served as the Assistant Team Lead of the Hostage Negotiation Team. He learned how to build trust and rapport with those who are struggling and facing difficult circumstances. 

As an Atlanta Police Officer, he climbed to the top of a crane hundreds of feet in the sky above Buckhead. He spent six hours at the top of the crane negotiating with a suspect who refused to come down. 

That’s the type of dedication and commitment Lt. Wilson has brought to Cobb Schools. 

In all, Lt. Wilson has served in law enforcement for over 40 years. Before stepping into uniform as a police officer, Lt. Wilson served in the U.S. Army. He also worked with the Fulton County Sheriff's Office and was recruited by the FBI as a Special Agent in Newark, New Jersey, before returning home to the Atlanta area. 

After decades of service, Lt. Wilson is retiring. His contributions, including mentoring students, creating safer communities, and fostering positive relationships, leave a legacy that will continue to impact Cobb Schools. 

He may not have served as a teacher in a classroom, but he and his fellow members of the Cobb Schools Police Department help students succeed every day. One Team, One Goal: Student Success. 

For more information on how Cobb Schools police officers, like Lt. Wilson and his team, keep students safe, visit Cobb Shield.