Greg Whitaker had been a police officer for years when he trained to become a special agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations.
He soon learned that particular style of law enforcement wasn't for him.
"He decided it wasn't for him [because] there wasn't enough excitement," said Becky Whitaker, his wife of 24 years. "He liked being in on the action, not coming in after everything was done."
In 2008, he joined the Johns Creek police department shortly after the Fulton County community incorporated into a city, previously serving as a Fulton County police officer assigned to the north Fulton precinct. He was part of John Creek's inaugural class of 56 officers and in January 2010 was promoted to corporal.
"Greg Whitaker did his job professionally, [and] had great rapport with his fellow officers and the community," Police Chief Ed Densmore wrote in a statement. "And he never, never complained."
On Feb. 10 Cpl. Whitaker underwent surgery at Emory University Hospital Midtown to remove a tumor inside his spinal cord. Days later, he was admitted to the Shepherd Center for rehabilitation and he died Tuesday morning after suffering a pulmonary embolism. He was 46.
A funeral was held Saturday at Briarwood Baptist Church in Watkinsville. Lord and Stephens Funeral Homes West, in Bogart, handled arrangements.
Cpl. Whitaker was born in Macon, but as a teen moved with his family to Watkinsville near Athens. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business.
In 1983, Whitaker began his law enforcement career at UGA, first as a dispatcher and next a police officer. In 23 years, he was an officer with the Fulton and Cobb county police departments, a GBI special agent and a reserve deputy with the Oconee County Sheriff's Office. Prior to Johns Creek, he spent nine years as a Fulton officer.
"He wanted to work with Johns Creek because he thought it was going to be a great police department and he had friends there," his wife said.
To help with family finances, the Greg Whitaker memorial tournament "Guns & Hoses" is set for March 28 at the St. Ives Country Club. It's likely to become an annual affair.
"He was a true leader," said Sgt. Dion Smith, Whitaker's supervisor. "He was always willing to do more than what was required of him and he really enjoyed helping people in the community."
Survivors other than his wife include his parents, Ellen and Clark Whitaker of Watkinsville; a daughter, Tori Whitaker, and a son, Wade Whitaker, both of Lawrenceville, and a sister, Paige Whitaker Spearing of Arnoldsville.
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