Caitlyn Owens
Caitlyn Owens
Age: 29
City of residence: Kingsland, Georgia
Current title: Patrol Sergeant with the City of Kingsland Police Department
Place of business: Kingsland Police Department
Professional responsibilities: As a Patrol Sergeant I am responsible for overseeing a shift of multiple police officers within the patrol unit with the City of Kingsland. As a supervisor, I am responsible for developing my team, interacting with and keeping the community safe, and ensuring that everyone on my squad makes it home safe to their family.
Accomplishments/Honors: Bachelor’s of Criminal Justice (Graduated Cum Laude) from the University of North Texas
M.A.D.D. Award Recipient (2022)
Community Involvement: I interact with the community on a daily basis while at work through community policing. I strive to build a strong bond between the public and law enforcement.
Why did you go into your particular field? I joined law enforcement because it is a challenging career and the job changes daily. As a police officer I stay motivated to keep my community safe while learning something new every day.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Throughout my childhood and into my teenage years, I wanted to be a nurse. In fact, I started to work toward nursing school in college before working toward a Criminal Justice degree.
What was your first job? I started my first job at sixteen years old as a hostess at the Metro Diner in Jacksonville, Florida.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received? “You don't set out to build a wall. You don't say 'I'm going to build the biggest, baddest, greatest wall that's ever been built. ' You don't start there. You say 'I'm gonna lay this brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid,' and you do that every single day, and soon you have a wall.”
What’s your favorite thing about your job? My favorite aspect of working with the City of Kingsland Police Department is that I have a second family. I enjoy working closely with my team to meet agency goals and teaching new officers in training.
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? Everyday you will learn something new in this field. Just always be patient and the answers will come with time, training, and experience.
Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? My greatest mentor is the hardest working woman I know, my mother. Over the years, my mother has shown me that with hard work and determination you can accomplish anything you want in your life. In my early childhood as a single mother, she sacrificed everything to ensure that I was taken care of and well-rounded. Throughout my life, I have watched her grow, develop, and build my family from the ground up. She has earned a Master’s degree, has a well respected career, and everyday I strive to match her determination and fill her shoes.
When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? When I am out of the “office,” I enjoy hiking Amelia Island’s trails or going to the beach. I also have two dogs that keep me busy with the dog park.
What is something about you that most people don’t know? Before becoming a police officer, I worked various jobs within the service industry. Prior to law enforcement, I was a chef, server, and also managed a high volume restaurant. All of these positions have developed my leadership and communication skills.
How do you hope to grow in your career? I hope to further my career by earning my Master’s of Criminal Justice. I already have several classes under my belt and hope to continue to pursue this goal in the near future. I also plan on attending Instructor school so I can assist the agency with the training program.
If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? If I could not be a law enforcement officer, I would be interested in pursuing a career as an event planner. Previously working in the service industry this is a field that has always peaked my interest. I think it would be special to always be a part of the most important day of someone else’s life.