Eatonton Police officer Willie Brinkley Jr. holds two plaques he received – the MAC’s Employee of the Year award and he Eatonton Police Department Employee of the Year award – at a Mothers Against Crime annual holiday awards banquet in 2015. He is flanked by his brother, Leon Brinkley, a retired Georgia State University police officer, and his son, Willie Brinkley III, an Athens-Clarke County police officer. Behind them is then-Eatonton Police Chief Kent Lawrence. FILE PHOTO
Eatonton Police Department and many in the community are mourning the loss of a long-time officer who lost his battle with cancer. Willie D. Brinkley, 74, died on April 30, according to Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell.
“Willie was a faithful employee who, even after his retirement, would come help with any activity we had,” Cardwell said. “He loved being a police officer; he loved Eatonton Po…
