Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office has a new face on its roster. Nathan Allman, a native of Tampa, Florida, completed police academy and has joined Sheriff Jeffrey Brewer’s uniform patrol division.
The 28-year-old sat down with The Chronicle for an interview over the weekend. During that time, he explained his journey to where his career is today.
Allman graduated from Johnson County High School in 2012. His first job saw him clocking in at Piggly Wiggly in Wrightsville. From there, he spent 2.5 years loading down the buffet at The Pizza Place in Wrightsville. After that, he worked at Lowe’s and Home Depot until he neared finishing basic law enforcement academy at Santa Fe Institute of Public Safety in November 2020.
That—becoming a law enforcement officer—was a decision he made consciously.
“In 2019, I decided I wanted to do something more fulfilling with my life than a job where I’m putting up freight overnight,” the father of two said. “I wanted my kids to be proud of me and the job I do.”
Be that as it may, joining the ranks of law enforcement today might, for some, be a tough decision to commit to. Today’s climate toward police is unlike it has been in the past, and there’s a mass exodus of sorts with both rookies and veteran police leaving the force. In addition, some might argue it’s a more dangerous job now than ever. Allman says he wasn’t deterred in the slightest; instead, he felt he had the right fit and the right support system, including most notably his mom and dad.
“I always felt I could do the job of a law enforcement officer and carry myself with the integrity a law enforcement officer should,” he said when asked about his decision to join up now. “As much hate as policing has received in this country, I know someone has to go do the job. This whole process has been made easier, thanks to my family and friends. They couldn’t have been more supportive throughout.”
Allman started his formal training at the academy in June 2020. He spent a total of 20 weeks there, learning through a series of classes that spanned 770 hours. He graduated in November, took the Florida state law enforcement exam, and moved back to Georgia a little more than a year ago. At that time, he had to complete a number of additional classes in order for the state to recognize his certification.
His first day on the job was Friday, April 22. With badge number 35 across his chest, he was proud of its significance and remains so today.
“This badge, to me, says I never gave up on myself during my lowest points,” the Kite resident said. “It also means I’m living up to my potential.”
Although he’s early into his gig, his favorite element of being a law enforcement officer is getting to call himself one.
“Going to work, knowing I’m doing something only a select group of individuals get the opportunity to do… That’s my favorite part of the job right now.”
Admittedly, even the best of jobs have their downfalls, and Allman is preparing to adjust to what life will look like now and in the future in that regard.
“The parts I know I’ll hate is possibly missing out on stuff involving my kids and my family,” he explained. Ironically, it will be his family on whom he leans when things get tough.
“For me, my family has always been there when I needed them, and I know they’ll continue to be those pillars when I need them most. The gym has always been my best bet to burn off stress and any negative energy I’m holding onto, so I know that’ll be a go-to when things get hard as well.”
When asked what kind of deputy he plans to be, or, in other words, what some of his priorities will be while on the job, Allman offered himself up fully.
“I want to help those in need. From unlocking a car door to removing an abusive parent from a home, I’m here to serve the community. As a law enforcement officer, I have to hold myself to a higher standard and act with integrity, no matter the situation, and that’s exactly what I plan to do.”
His main goal while at work is to make sure he and whoever is is working alongside him on a shift all make it home safely. Allman says he’s still “very early” into his career, so he also wants to wholly master the basics before moving into something more specific.
In closing, Allman is living in the moment. While he doesn’t underestimate the weight of the badge, he also recognizes it can’t become too large. After all, this is an opportunity he’s worked toward for a long time, and he’s finally gotten the chance to serve a small community like Emanuel.
“Just because I’m wearing this badge doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten I’m just a boy from Kite. I’m forever thankful for the opportunity Sheriff Jeffrey Brewer and his office have given me, and I’m looking forward to working alongside my peers.”