Waycross Police Department Det. Mark Horne has been named City Employee of the Year for 2025.
Det. Horne, Employee of the Month for October, was chosen from last year’s 12 monthly honorees. Waycross Fire Department firefighter/driver Scott Raulerson was the honoree for 2024.
The honoree was instrumental in saving the life of Georgia State Patrol Trooper Justin Jones last May. The detective rendered CPR to Jones after he and other officers rescued the trooper from his submerged vehicle following a wreck at the end of a high-speed chase to apprehend a suspect fleeing from a traffic stop in the city.
Det. Horne was honored Tuesday, January 6 at the Waycross City Commission’s bimonthly meeting.
“His greatest attribute is his exceptional ability to perform under the most extreme and stressful situations, remaining focused, decisive, and effective when it matters most,” WPD Chief Tommy Cox said in introducing Det. Horne. “This quality was clearly demonstrated on May 7, 2025, when Det. Horne, along with other officers, responded to a critical incident involving an overturned patrol vehicle submerged in water.”
The incident began around 7:44 p.m. May 7, when Jones assisted WPD with a traffic stop on Washington Avenue near Brunel Street. The suspect, later identified as Cameron Hilliard, 47, of the 1700 block of Holiday Street, Waycross, was driving a black, Chevrolet Tahoe, fled the scene, prompting officers and the trooper to initiate a pursuit.
Trooper Jones became the lead unit in the chase for several miles before attempting a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver on Swamp Road near Gilmore Drive.
After executing the process, the trooper’s vehicle veered onto the shoulder, overturned into a creek, and landed upside down.
“Through swift and coordinated action, (officers) were able to rescue Trooper Justin Jones from the submerged vehicle,” Chief Cox said. “Following the rescue, Det. Horne immediately rendered life-saving CPR, action that directly contributed to saving Trooper Jones’ life.”
Horne and other officers were subsequently honored with the Lifesaver Award in Atlanta by the GSP for their efforts in rescuing Trooper Jones. Hilliard fled on foot when his vehicle wrecked, was quickly arrested, and faced 18 charges related to the incident.
Det. Horne joined the WPD in December 2019 and left for a short period before returning in September 2023 when he was assigned to the Uniform Patrol Section. He was subsequently chosen to serve on the department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and as a Field Training Officer.
Cox said Det. Horne’s service, courage, and dedication reflect the highest standards of the WPD and the city.
“His professionalism, selflessness, and unwavering commitment to the safety of others make him highly deserving of the honor of Employee of the Year,” Chief Cox said.
