The Exchange Club of Waycross continued an emphasis on child abuse awareness welcoming Capt. Gregory Young, Criminal Investigations Section Commander for the Waycross Police Department, as a featured speaker at a club meeting.
Young, a 20-year veteran of law enforcement and a crisis-negotiations commander, offered a candid look this spring at the scope of child mistreatment in Ware County and the critical role of a coordinated response.
His remarks underscored the urgency of the issue, noting “in the past year alone, there were over 800 reports of child maltreatment, resulting in more than 130 confirmed victims of abuse or neglect.”
Young emphasized Ware’s confirmed- case rate is “significantly higher than the state average.”
He highlighted the partnership between law enforcement and the Satilla Advocacy Services Child Advocacy Center, led by Executive Director Tess Aldridge, who, as April Program Chair, introduced Young. The captain described the center as essential to ensuring that child victims receive trauma-informed care while investigators, medical professionals, and advocates work together in a unified process.
The Advocacy Center, he said, “brings together victim advocates, medical professionals, and law enforcement into one coordinated, unified response.”
Young explained forensic interviewers — trained to speak with children in a legally sound, non-leading manner — help reduce the number of times a child must recount their experience.
“When we operate as one team, we reduce duplication … and ensure every step we take is trauma-informed and purposeful,” Young said.
The captain also shared his own background, including more than 3,100 hours of professional training and certifications as a general instructor, firearms instructor, gang investigator, and truth-verification examiner. He currently supervises six investigators and commands the department’s Crisis Negotiations Team, coordinating responses during high-risk incidents.
The club’s April focus aligns with its national mission of preventing child abuse and supporting agencies that protect vulnerable children.
Young closed his remarks by reminding attendees awareness must lead to action.
“What we can control — every single time — is how we respond,” he said. “Because at the end of the day, this work isn’t about recognition — it’s about responsibility.”
