Patrick Cullinan is the Executive Director of the Georgia Division of the SSPBA. He brings more than thirty years of law enforcement experience to the organization, with a background that includes K-9 operations, criminal interdiction, training, traffic fatality investigation, vice and narcotics, and violent-crime investigations.

 

Patrick began his career with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, where he served until his retirement. A longtime and active member of the PBA of Georgia, he was elected president of the River Region Chapter and later served as senior vice president for the PBA of GA. After retiring from law enforcement, he joined the SSPBA as a full-time staff representative under the guidance and mentorship of longtime Executive Director Joe Stiles. Joe’s leadership, paired with Patrick’s decades of hands-on experience, provided the foundation that prepared him for his current role.

 

Beyond his work with the SSPBA, Patrick has been deeply involved in peer support across Georgia and the nation, helping officers and their families navigate the unique challenges of the profession. A graduate of Thomas University, he was appointed Executive Director of the Georgia Division in 2024 and continues to advocate with the same dedication and integrity that defined his career in uniform.

Tommy was employed as a law enforcement in the State of Georgia from 1969 until 1997, serving in city, county and state levels. He joined PBA in 1984, during the initial formation of Georgia PBA. He served as president of the Flint River chapter for several years as well serving on the Executive Board of Georgia PBA. He remained a member of PBA throughout the rest of his law enforcement career.

 

Ending his law enforcement career in 1997, after the formation of Southern States PBA, Tommy accepted employment as a staff representative with PBA in the State of Mississippi. He has previously served the association as a staff representative and as Executive Director of the Mississippi PBA Division.

 

Tommy currently serves as Director of Organizational Services for the West region of Southern States PBA and resides in Tupelo, Ms.

John is a 17 year law enforcement veteran. He began his career in law enforcement in 1974 with the Raleigh Police Department where he served for 15 years before being hired by the SSPBA as a staff representative in 1989.

 

PBA membership was introduced to his department in 1986. He immediately joined fellow officers in forming a local PBA chapter. After holding the first ever candidate screening of the local city council his chapter was active in working with PBA endorsed council members in obtaining new equipment, increasing longevity pay, creating the first ever lateral career ladder promotional positions, a new sergeant's promotional exam and the largest one time across the board pay increase for police officers in our city's history.

 

After serving as a part time staff representative in 1988 John accepted a full time position on January 2, 1989. He was appointed as Executive Director of the North Carolina Division in September, 1989 and became the division's primary lobbyist in 1990 where he continues to serve in those roles today.

 

John holds a BS degree from Atlantic Christian College. He received his Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate in 1984 and has received over a thousand hours of advanced law enforcement training. He considers it an honor that he served all of his law enforcement career as a street cop. He has served as a community college law enforcement instructor at Central Carolina Community College and as a guest lecturer at the university level and before various criminal justice organizations in matters involving due process and the rights of law enforcement officers.

 

John and his wife Teresa have three sons named Matthew, Adam and Christopher.