First Responder Hero Award: Lt. Justin Small

VARNELL, Ga. (WDEF) – News 12 is recognizing some of the bravest members of our community through the First Responders Hero Award.

Whether someone is an EMT, paramedic, firefighter, or police officer, this award honors their unwavering dedication to keeping us safe.

When danger strikes, these heroes are the first to respond.

Now, it’s our turn to put them first.

In partnership with Wettermark Keith, News 12 is proud to spotlight these courageous men and women, and this month, the community has nominated Lieutenant Justin Small with the Varnell Police Department.

“That’s awesome,” Lt. Small said with a smile after hearing the news.

Lt. Small’s path into law enforcement was driven by a desire to change perceptions.

“I chose the career because there’s a lot of negative concepts about police officers and law enforcement officers,” he said. “What I wanted to do was actually bridge that gap and show a very positive relationship with the community and with law enforcement—and what it really can be.”

He now serves as a K-9 handler, a role he earned after starting as a patrol deputy in Whitfield County.

“I did that for about two years, utilized my post-9/11 GI Bill, and I was able to go through a program to get my canine and my canine handler certification,” Lt. Small said. “I was able to obtain Canine Kid, who was a German shepherd, about four years ago. And when it’s time to go to business and it’s time to do work, he turns from a kid to a dog really, really quick and knows what to do. Same as me, as I’ve been told as well.”

One of the most impactful moments in his career came while assisting Catoosa County on New Year’s Eve a few years ago.

“Learning being a dog handler, you have to learn to trust your dog a lot—that’s hard as a human being to trust an animal, even though he’s got a lot more senses than I do,” Lt. Small explained.

He had just pulled ribs off the smoker when the call came in: a girl had been taken at knifepoint and escaped to a nearby gas station.

“I said, ‘I’ll be there in 10 minutes.’ Don’t really know what’s going on in regards to where the suspect has ran—within five minutes, after they’d been out there for two hours, Kid and I were able to flush out the suspect. He takes off on foot towards I-75, and we were able to apprehend him within about three minutes after that,” Lt. Small said. “At that point, I really realized it was hugely impactful for me to trust my dog and realize the relationship him and I do have, and the impact it can have on the community.”

Before coming to Varnell, Lt. Small spent years covering larger jurisdictions, including Walker County. The size made it difficult to form lasting relationships.

“You were never in one place long enough to maintain and develop relationships with the community,” he said.

That changed in Varnell.

“I got to know the community better, I got to see the same people, I got to drive the same roads. I got to know the teachers at the schools, the kids at the schools,” he said.

His presence is well-known—especially thanks to his pink handcuffs, a tradition from career day visits that earned him the nickname “Barbie.”

In the community, Justin is known by a nickname—“Barbie”—a playful nod to his pink handcuffs, which became a tradition after career day visits to local schools.

“It is really gratifying to me when I’m somewhere and somebody sees me—‘Hey, Barbie, what’s going on?’ I’m like, ‘Oh, hey, Shelby, hey, Angel, what’s going on?’” he said. “That’s been the best thing about being in a smaller community. I can take care of my community, helping develop them for beyond.”

Outside of the uniform, Lt. Small is a devoted husband to his wife, Charlie, and a proud father to Sawyer, Paisley, and Lincoln.

He credits them for their patience and sacrifices during the unpredictable hours of his work.

“God bless them and the stuff they have to put in for me when I get a call out at 2 o’clock in the morning,” he said. “Especially my wife, ’cause I know it is really stressful on her, especially having to worry about me as much as she does.”

That worry became all too real one night when Charlie woke to a knock at the door.

“A couple of years ago, I did a DUI stop in Walker County,” Lt. Small recalled. “There’s drugs, and you know, we have to test this substance and field-test it to make sure it is what it is for the courts.”

While testing the substance in the squad room with a close friend, Lt. Small—who is allergic to opioids—began to feel off.

“He looks at me and goes, ‘Are you okay?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ I shake my head again, and he goes, ‘Dude, I’m about to go get the Narcan. Are you okay?’ A couple minutes go by, and I go, ‘Dude, get the Narcan.’”

He was given Narcan three times. Meanwhile, another officer tried to reach his wife.

“She gets the bang on the door, runs down, and sees a law enforcement officer sitting there saying, ‘Hey, Justin’s on the way to the hospital—you’ve got a fentanyl exposure,’” he said.

The exposure caused his brain to swell so quickly that he suffered a concussion without ever hitting his head.

“That month of December was stressful and hard, and it made me take a step back and realize what really matters here—and that is my family,” Lt. Small said. “But also finding a way to be a positive interaction and role model for the community itself.”

It’s a story he now shares with kids during career day, warning them about the dangers of drugs.

“At the end of the day, you just want to go home to your family,” he said. “Having them—my kids—it’s a hard one.”

From the man who says he never sought recognition, the gratitude is sincere.

“From the bottom of my heart, I am extremely grateful that you did decide to recognize me for this,” Lt. Small said. “But I couldn’t do it without you guys, regardless.”