Meet Tyrone Dennis | Creator & Founder of Clippers & Cops: Retired Gang Detective

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tyrone Dennis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tyrone, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m Tyrone Dennis, I was born and raised in St.Louis, Missouri. Graduated from Marquette High School in ’97 after being kicked out of school for 43 days at the end of my senior year. Lost a few Division 1 scholarship offers because I helped my friend in a fight. Got a basketball scholarship to a community college (Lake Land College) in Mattoon, Illinois. I graduated with my associates degree in Criminal Justice in ’99, then transferred to the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama where I played basketball for two years and to get more money to pay for school I ran Cross Country in my 5th year. I graduated in ’02 with my Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice & Sociology. I then went to play pro basketball in Colombia, South America off and on for two and a half years. I also played on the And 1 Tour, and in a minor pro league the WBA (World Basketball Association). I moved to Atlanta in ’04 to become Atlanta Police. I swore-in’05.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was assigned to Zone 5/Old 4th Ward/ Boulevard area, for 6 1/2 years. I then got promoted to detective and I have been a detective for 9 1/2 years now, currently assigned to the APD Criminal Intelligence/ Gang Unit/ATF Task Force. In 2015 my partner and I were voted the Investigators/Detectives of the Year for our entire department. I won the Community Service Award for my gang outreach in 2016. I recently received the Atlanta Police Department Commendation award in 2019 for the creation of the program Clippers & Cops, which is a community engagement program created to create dialogue and empathy between law enforcement and the community. I also received a proclamation from the City of Atlanta city council for my Clippers & Cops program. I’m certified as a gang expert and shave testified in countless gang cases court proceedings on the state and federal level.

Bio

Tyrone Dennis, 42, 16 year veteran of Atlanta Police Department  (Retired)

Married (14 years, 3 children)

Currently the Director of School Safety for Rockwood School District – Aug ‘20 – Current

Graduated from University of North Alabama
(Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice & Sociology ‘02)

Graduated from Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois
(Associate Degree in Criminal Justice ‘99)

Played professional basketball in Colombia 🇨🇴 South America for 2 yrs.

Started with Atlanta Police in September of ‘04

Did 6 1/2 years on patrol before being promoted to Detective

Detective for 10 years

Investigator of the Year in ‘15 along with my partner Lakea Gaither

Received the Judge Kaplan Community Service Award in ‘17

Received a Community Service Award from The US Attorney’s Office Southern District of Georgia ‘17

Creator and founder of the community based program Clippers & Cops ‘18

Received the Atlanta PD Commendation Award for my creation of Clippers & Cops program which is to help bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community ‘19

Received a Proclamation from Atlanta City Council for Clippers & Cops ‘19

Specialize in Criminal Street Gangs: Have been tasked with investigating, documenting, and monitoring gangs for the past 7 years

Have taken well over 100 hours of training focusing on gangs and gang violence

Certified as a gang expert and have testified in well over 10 trials prosecuting gang related crimes such as murder, shootings, armed robbery

Have been mentoring/public speaking for 16 years (Project Grad, Real Talk With the Law, Ballin’ for Peace, Clippers & Cops).

Received the ASIS Law Enforcement Community Service Award ‘20

University of North Alabama Alumni of the Year ‘20

University of North Alabama National Alumni Association Board of Directors ‘21

Was a guest on the TNT Show The Arena with Bakari Sellers

Was a panelist at the 2021 AT&T Revolt Summit

Have been featured on CNN, Fox News, BET, The First 48

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Working as a cop in Atlanta and working the club scene Zi know a few places:

First I would go to Milk & Honey for Brunch and drinks. The breakfast menu is like no other. The owners Deon Harrison & Rasheed (Sleep) Green are like family to me and the atmosphere is awesome. Next I would send them to Boogalou, John Burns, Kasey Mozee, and Tony are like family as well and good friends also. The food is awesome, and the swing seating makes for the perfect space to hang out hear some good music, and relax. I then woukd send them by ZuCot art gallery located in the Castleberry district. ZuCot is one of the only black owned art galleries in the southeast. Onajee & Omari Henderson are also like family and the experience of viewing art will give you a great date night to do something that many have not done. Finally you can’t come to Atlanta and not visit the clubs. Opium (Kevin Edwards) is a great friend of mine and will show you how Atlanta parties! Republic will give you a grown band or live performer, Niiaomi Gidewon will roll out the red carpet. On Sunday’s I would send them to Flip Flops off Crescent so that my guy Jay Cromedy will make you want to move to Atlanta. I would also send them to my good friend Lyric, Korey, and Ant! Wherever they are promoting you are bound to have a great time! See the Emerging 100 Christmas Party or the Atlanta Garden Party hosted by Justin Miller. Don’t forget Ember & Traffick with the best promoter Rasheed (Sleep) Green.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Michael Carter Orrick Curry
Michael Seiden
Donte Booker
Tyrone Finney
Andre Lowe
Maurice Swiney

Team Clippers & Cops

Website: ClippersandCops.org

Instagram: Tyronejdennis

Linkedin: Tyrone Dennis

Twitter: Tyronejdennis

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Other: Tyronejdennis.com

Image Credits
Tyrone Finney