On the morning of January 9, 2025, two young men stood ready to take their oaths as police officers for the Laurel Police Department. It was a moment of pride and promise, marking the beginning of their dedicated service to their community. George Adam Carmichael and Will Clark, both 24 years old, were sworn in by Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee at 9 a.m.
For Adam Carmichael, the path to law enforcement had been years in the making. A local resident, Carmichael had excelled in both academics and athletics. He graduated from Laurel High School in 2019 with an impressive 3.9 GPA, ranking 11th in his class. His passion for learning took him further, earning an Associate of Arts degree from Jones College while still in high school and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Tougaloo College in 2022. But despite his academic success, it was his desire to serve that defined his future.
Carmichael’s journey to the Laurel Police Department had been something that Chief Tommy Cox had been anticipating for years. Chief Cox shared, “We’ve been trying to recruit him for 2 or 3 years.”
Carmichael had initially started his law enforcement career with the Jackson Police Department after graduating from the police academy in June 2023. But in 2024, he transferred to the Laurel Police Department, where his talents and dedication would be put to work in the very community he knew and loved.
When asked about his reasons for becoming a police officer, Carmichael shared that it was watching law enforcement shows on TV as a child that sparked his interest. “I always wanted to be a police officer,” he said. Now that he is an officer, he stated that he wants to be in narcotics investigations.
Alongside Adam stood Will Clark, a native of Taylorsville, whose incredible achievements in the police academy had earned him the title of "Top Cop." Will was recognized for his outstanding physical fitness and academic performance at the state police academy held at Camp Shelby.
In addition to the Top Cop prize, Clark also made history as the first person to win all three physical fitness test awards—the mile-and-a-half run, the agility run, and the push-up test—now referred to as the "triple crown."
Clark also received the prestigious 4th Congressional District award, presented by Representative Mike Ezell.
Before joining the police force, Clark served in the U.S. Marine Corps. It was the sense of camaraderie and brotherhood that he experienced there that motivated him to pursue a career in law enforcement. “When I left the Marine Corps, I missed that feeling of being part of brotherhood,” he explained.
With their oaths taken and their badges now proudly displayed, Officers George Adam Carmichael and Will Clark stepped into the next chapter of their lives—two young men, ready to serve, protect, and make a lasting impact on their community.