As the adage goes, “timing is everything.”

Covington Police Lt. Allen Martin knows this to be a truth, as different timing throughout his life could’ve landed hime in a much different position today.

Martin joined the Covington Police Department on Sept. 10, 1996 — a date he specially recalled during an interview with The Covington News.

Before becoming a police officer, the lifelong Covington resident had briefly attended North Georgia College and had a dream to become a conversation ranger, or a game warden. Martin’s uncle, who was a lieutenant colonel with the state Department of Natural Resources Division at the time, said he could help get Martin’s foot in the door to apply and participate in testing.

“The year I tested, there were like over 1,000 or more candidates to put in for only seven positions,” Martin said. “I didn’t get in.”

Martin did, however, finish as a top-30 finalist.

“I went to my uncle and was like, ‘What happened? I thought you had the hook?’ And my uncle said, ‘Here’s the thing,’” Martin said. “‘A lot of the folks we hired already have law enforcement experience.’ He said they had several state troopers transfer in and deputies hired on. So he told me to go out and get some experience.” 

Shortly after, in 1995, he ran into then-Covington Police Capt. Craig Treadwell in town, and he told Martin to apply to work at Covington.

But as 1996 approached, so, too, did the much-anticipated Olympic Games to be held in Atlanta. Martin said the games caused hiring opportunities to stall until after the event was over. And that’s when Martin landed his shot.

“[Covington Mayor] Steve Horton was police chief at the time,” Martin said. 

The day Martin was called in to be offered a job was an unforgettable one for Martin.

“I was working with my dad — he was a general contractor,” he said. “This was the early cell phone era. We had a land line outside — we were so early on in the job at the time that we didn’t even have a job trailer yet. So we had a land line phone hooked directly to the phone line on the pole, just sitting on the ground. Well, my dad hears the phone ring, goes to answer. He comes over to me and says it’s [current chief] Stacey Cotton. Well, Stacey says Chief Horton wants me to come in. He thinks he’s going to offer me the job. So I’m like, ‘Cool.’ I tell my dad what’s going on, say, ‘I’ve got to go to the police department.’

“Later, that same night, I saw my daddy, and he said, ‘Literally 15 minutes after you had left the job site, the city of Conyers called and wanted to offer you a job,’” Martin continued. “So had Stacey Cotton not called when he did, I would have been going to Conyers, and I might be working at Conyers right now. But that’s just God’s will, and he just puts you where he wants you to be.”

Since joining the Covington Police Department, Martin said he’s never looked back.

Today he holds the rank of lieutenant, serving as a watch commander for one of the department’s night shifts, which includes a sergeant and about seven officers. Martin said he often has to find the balance between working in an administrative role while also being a first-line supervisor and continuing to answer calls.

“I still have that sergeant and officer in me, so I enjoy getting out to answer calls,” he said. “And I think it builds a good sense of team whenever you’re out there and the guys can see that the lieutenant isn’t too big to answer calls.”

Martin also serves as a Taser training instructor and physical training instructor.

What Martin loves most about working for the Covington Police Department is the focus on community outreach. Since 2019, Martin has served as race director of the annual Covington Fuzz Run, which is an annual fundraising event to help support the Police Who Care Fund.

“That’s my baby, and I love it,” Martin said.

He said the race is not only for a great cause to support officers, but it also provides an opportunity for the police department to further connect with the community.

“Walls come down and we can show our personal side,” he said of the Fuzz Run. “One of our funny little sayings is, ‘Run with us, not from us.’ That, to me, is what it’s about. We want to be with you, and you with us.”

When off-duty, Martin enjoys traveling and spending time with his family. He said he also loves going over to school and reading to area students. 

“I think it’s important that we get in front of these kids at an early age and show them police officers aren’t people to be afraid of,” he said.  

Martin is also currently working to earn his college degree from Troy University.