Midway celebrates having the highest ranking women in law enforcement and fire response

According to a study conducted by Statista, women are severely outnumbered in law enforcement, as they make up less than 13% of full-time law enforcement officers in the United States.

Likewise, the National Fire Protection Association says that only 11% of volunteer firefighters are women and career firefighters see even less women in the field, with only 4% of career firefighters being women.

These statistics make the City of Midway stand out all the more, as a recent pinning and swearing-in ceremony conducted at Midway City Hall put women in the second-in-command chairs for both the police department and fire rescue service of the city.

On August 10, Kristi Cobb - formerly a lieutenant for the Midway department - was promoted and sworn in as the new Captain of Police for the City of Midway, a position that is overseen only by the city's Chief of Police, Alexander Freeman.

Likewise, Assistant Fire Chief Didi Johnson serves directly under Midway's Emergency Services Fire Chief Nathaniel Yarusso.

A swearing-in ceremony for Captain Cobb gathered together the various members of fire and police response, as well as city officials and citizens - all who came to celebrate Captain Cobb and what her title of captain meant for the City of Midway.

Chief Freeman arrived in Midway in April, from Palm Beach County, after being hired by the city council to take on the role of chief for the city.

Prior to his arrival, then-Lieutenant Cobb served as the Interim Chief of Police.

Chief Freeman stated, during Cobb's August 10 ceremony, that many chiefs who come into an agency from the outside bring captains with them, but he realized ‘very quickly’ that Kristi Cobb would be the ideal captain for Midway and he never felt as though he needed to bring in anyone else.

“We have to do what is in the best interest of our community," said Chief Freeman, supporting his belief that placing Cobb as Captain of Police was the best option for Midway. “I don’t know the community - I needed someone from inside, and there could not have been a better pick than her to serve as my captain of police.”

Captain Cobb is the first woman to hold the title of captain in the Midway Police Department - and is also the highest ranking female officer in Gadsden County’s combined police and sheriff agencies.

“We are witnessing history,” said Linda Dilworth, Midway's town manager.

Cobb came into her career in law enforcement after serving as a probation officer for over 10 years.

“I wanted some type of career where I could do something - I wanted to be able to help people, and protect people," said Cobb.

This desire to protect, Cobb says, came after a close family member experienced a traumatic, violent crime.

Cobb says she wanted to be able to protect other people from becoming victims of a similar crime. “Being a police officer gave me the ability to truly protect victims.”

Cobb says that she believes women bring a sense of compassion, patience, and understanding to the law enforcement field - and Chief Freeman adds that women in law enforcement add a different perspective that helps agencies solve crime and offer better aid.

As the first female captain and highest ranking woman in Gadsden County law enforcement, Cobb says this means big things for the City of Midway.

" “This is a major step," said Cobb.

Chief Freeman agrees.

“I think this is a new day in Midway. This is a new Midway police department," said Chief Freeman. "Being that she is a resident and a native of the Tallahassee/Gadsden County area, it is truly a benefit to Midway to have her serve second at the helm.”

Assistant Fire Chief Johnson agrees as well, saying that the citizens of Midway are better protected when women serve in first response, as a female presence balances out the first response field.

"Women tend to see things that men don’t really notice or look at," said Johnson. “I give a different view."

Like Cobb, Johnson got into firefighting after experiencing tragedy - losing a loved one.

“I lost a niece in a car accident," said Johnson. "Losing something so precious to me, so quickly, it made me want to try to save any person I could save. I wanted to help.”

Johnson first served with the Wetumpka Volunteer Fire Department, where she was briefly made captain, before she moved to Midway and began serving closer to home.

She was at Midway for only a year before Chief Yarusso made her assistant chief.

“Midway is moving up. I am happy to be a part of this community. I’m happy that they are growing as a city, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Midway - I hope I get to be a part of it," said Johnson.

Johnson said she didn't realize, until she was past her 30s, that this was firefighting and first response would be something she enjoyed and wanted to do - and she encourages any woman, young or old, to not be afraid of taking on the new challenges and opportunities that first response can offer.

“We need more women in the field. Women need to know that we can do this too. We can do anything that the men can do. Be all you can be, go for your dreams," said Johnson. “It’s never too late to go for your dreams.”

Assistant Chief Johnson's son, Josh, also serves with the Midway Fire Rescue, as an engineer.

Likewise, Cobb encourages other women to pursue their interests in law enforcement.

“It’s never too late to go for your dreams."

During Captain Cobb's swearing-in and pinning ceremony, Midway City Hall was packed until even standing room became sparse.

The room was filled with members of the community, Cobb's church family, relatives, friends, and a gathering of law enforcement representatives from around North Florida.

Antonio Jefferson administered Cobb’s oath of office for the position of Captain and placed her bars on her collar; afterwards, State Trooper Corporal P.J. Shaw, a close friend of Cobb’s, pinned Cobb’s badge.

Afterwards, several friends and family stood and spoke, briefly, in support of Cobb and offered words of praise, encouragement, and love.

In return, the newly-sworn-in Captain Cobb thanked several Midway leaders who had supported her journey to the Captain's Chair.

To Chief Freeman, Cobb thanked him for seeing her worth from the start.

“From day one, Chief, you saw the dedication and commitment that I had given to the Midway Police Department. You saw my skills and talent, and you believed in me.”

To City Manager Dilworth, Cobb thanked her for her support and trust.

“Thank you for trusting me to be the interim Chief of Police until Chief Freeman was appointed” - to Dilworth. “You always supported my decisions and your kind words will always be appreciated.”

To Antonio Jefferson, who had acted as a guide to Cobb during her career at Midway, Cobb thanked him for his leadership.

“You were the one who pushed me the hardest, but you always gave me kind words. I will always remember the conversations we had, when you told me: ‘Kristi Cobb, you can never be afraid to take a leap of faith.’ I took that leap, and now I’m captain.”

And finally, Captain Cobb thanked her friends, family, and the citizens of Midway themselves for being her constant supporters.

"You all don't know how my heart is filled for you," Captain Cobb remarked. “I won’t let you down.”

Ashley Hunter - editor@gadsdencountytimes.com

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Has the county violated state law? Gadsden County says no – county attorney says budgets not properly advertised

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