Perry Police Department – Swears in three new officers

The Perry Police Department recently swore in three new officers, Matthew Calhoun, Bria Moore, and Jesse Quinones.

Calhoun, Moore and Quinones were hired in April of 2019 and graduated from basic law enforcement training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center on Dec. 20, 2019. The following week they began their field-training program with the department.

Calhoun grew up in Bonaire. He graduated from Warner Robins High School and shortly after began his career as a corrections officer in 1995 at the Dooly State Prison. He spent 13.5 years working his way from a corrections officer to chief of security. Calhoun then took a break from the law enforcement profession for a couple of years, but missed it and returned as a dispatcher for the Houston County Sheriff’s Office 911 Center in 2016.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my career,” Calhoun said. “Initially I did want to work my way to become a patrol officer, but while working for the Department of Corrections, I just fell in love with it. I wanted a break, but the ‘magnet’ drew me back in, and I wanted to just get back in the mix of law enforcement. So I became a dispatcher. I enjoyed my time at the 911 center, but after a while I just had this yearning and desire that I wanted to help more. And that’s when Perry Police Department had an opening and I’m very grateful to have this opportunity to serve.”

Moore was born and raised in Mississippi. What brought her to Georgia was her mother served in the United States Air Force and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Her mother was stationed at Robins Air Force Base and decided to reside in the area after retirement. Moore also has a brother and sister. After graduating from high school she went on to earn a degree in criminal justice and homeland security from Savannah State University.

“At first I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to pursue for a career,” Moore said. “But during my senior year, I began watching a lot of crime and law shows that it just really got me interested. So I went on to pursue my degree. Before coming to the Perry Police Department I worked with the Department of Corrections for three years and the Juvenile Department of Corrections for two years. While I enjoyed my work there, I still wasn’t fulfilled. I wanted to do more and help. A good friend of our family talked to me about becoming a police officer and shared that Perry was hiring. I am very grateful for this opportunity.”

Moore said some of her goals as an officer include building relationships with the community while making sure everyone is safe. Later on in her career, she hopes to one day to be a part of the Georgia Bureau Investigation or ICE.

Quinones is also a local native being born and raised in Houston County. He graduated from Perry High School and soon after began working for the Houston County Detention Center for two and half years. He said he is the third generation in his family to go into law enforcement.

“Originally I went off to college to earn a degree in business administration,” Quinones said. “But it wasn’t until after I got my associates degree that I moved towards the law enforcement profession. At one time I was working for a wrecker company and going and seeing all of the bad accidents; it really opened my eyes of what went on in public safety. It was then that I knew I wanted to do more to help. I applied for the Perry Police Department and am excited to have graduated from basic law enforcement training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center.”