The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Walker embellished his ties to law enforcement
Senate candidate touched on issue in multiple speeches.
In September 2019, Herschel Walker stood in front of a group of soldiers in combat fatigues at Joint Base Lewis-mcchord in Washington state. The motivational talk was, by now, familiar: Walker traced the obstacles he had overcome, including his struggle with mental health. But more than 30 minutes into the speech, Walker wandered off topic.
“I worked for law enforcement, y’all didn’t know that either?” he said. “I spent time at Quantico at the FBI training school. Y’all didn’t know I was an agent?”
It wasn’t the first time Walker said he was in law enforcement, The Atlanta Journal-constitution found while reviewing dozens of speeches and motivational talks by Walker that were posted online.
“I work with the Cobb County Police Department, and I’ve been in criminal justice all my life,” he said in 2017.
In 2000, he told Irving, Texas, police that he was “a certified peace officer,” according to a police report.
And he has used his alleged law enforcement ties to justify why he has had a gun, including a 2001 incident when he pursued a man who was late delivering a car.
“I worked in law enforcement, so I had a gun. I put this gun in my holster and I said, ‘I’m gonna kill this dude,’” he said at a 2013 suicide prevention event for the U.S. Army.
Walker has said that incident spurred him to seek mental health treatment.
The claims, which appear to have halted since he entered the U.S. Senate race, aren’t true. Asked about the claims by the AJC, a Walker campaign spokeswoman said he majored in criminal justice at the University of Georgia and “has supported and worked with law enforcement for years, including speaking to police about mental health, leading women’s self-defense training, participating in the FBI Academy at Quantico.”
She added he was an honorary deputy in Cobb County and three other Georgia counties but did not specify which ones.
The Cobb County Police Department said it had no record of involvement with Walker. The Cobb Sheriff ’s Office could not say whether he was an honorary deputy.
But former Dekalb County District Attorney J. Tom Morgan said even if he was, that doesn’t mean a lot.
”It gives you absolutely no law enforcement authority,” he said. “It’s like a junior ranger badge.”
Morgan said that many sheriffs in Georgia stopped handing out such honors amid fears that people would use the paperwork to impersonate police officers, a felony in Georgia.
Walker’s FBI claim is a little tougher to pin down. Walker is not an agent — that would require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and Walker left UGA before earning his degree. Asked to clarify, the Walker campaign provided Associated Press stories from 1989 — as Walker was retiring from pro football — where he said he spent a week at an FBI school in Quantico, Va.
“They had an obstacle course and you shoot at targets to protect your partner as you advanced up the course,” he told the AP. “I had fun. There were about 200 recruits there.”
The FBI did not respond when asked to verify the account.
For all of Walker’s stated support of law enforcement, the relationship has not always been smooth. In September 2001, he threatened a shootout with cops responding to a domestic disturbance at his Texas home, according to a police report.
FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons want running back/wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson ready for more Swiss Army knife duties when they open training camp in late July.
Patterson, entering his 10th NFL season, reported for duty and took his physical, but the team decided to hold him out of the two-day mandatory minicamp, coach Arthur Smith said Tuesday before practice.
“He’s working on a (veteran) offseason program to build him up,” Smith said. “He’s here. He wanted to work. Myself and our performance staff, we have a different plan for Cordarrelle. I’m not going to crank him up for two days. We need him ready to go on July 26.”
Patterson was the Falcons’ most dynamic weapon last sea
son. He rushed 153 times for 618 yards (4.0 per carry) and six touchdowns. He also caught 52 of 69 targets for 548 yards and five touchdowns. In total, Patterson had 205 touches for 1,166 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“He has an offseason program,” Smith said in regard to Patterson missing this week’s minicamp sessions. “It works well for him in Charlotte. He’s a real pro. He communicates all the time. I didn’t think it was necessary with where he’s at and where we need him to play a 17-game season. Again, it’s not one size fits all. We’re trying to be smart.”
Patterson signed a twoyear, $10.5 million deal with the Falcons on March 22. He received a $5 million signing bonus. After losing linebacker Foye Oluokun ( Jaguars), wide receiver Russell Gage (Bucs) and long snapper Josh Harris (Chargers), the Falcons retained Patterson, who’ll remain a key cog in the offense.
The Falcons went into the 2021 season with plans for Mike Davis as the lead running back in a committee setup. But the bulk of the carries went to Patterson, and the Falcons finished 31st in the NFL in rushing, at 85.4 yards per game.
Through three straight games, the Falcons rushed for more than 100 yards against Jacksonville (149 on Nov. 28), Tampa Bay (121 on Dec. 5) and Carolina (128 on Dec. 12). Patterson lead the Falcons in rushing for 108, 78 and 58 yards, respectively, in those games.
Smith contends the rushing game was slowed over the final four games because the team got into low-possession games where they were working the clock against San Francisco, Detroit, Buffalo and New Orleans.
“Cordarrelle’s role will evolve again this year,” Smith said Monday on Siriusxm NFL radio. “He’s certainly one of the more consistent (backs in the) run game . ... It will be a little more by committee. We’ll see who emerges, but there will be a huge role for Cordarrelle . ... He’s going to take a unique role in this offense.”
The Falcons coaching staff cracked the code on how to use Patterson, who was a first-round draft pick as a wide receiver and has been one of the game’s top kickoff returners and a four-time Allpro. In 2021, he had career highs in carries (153), rushing yards (618) and receiving yards (548). He tied his career high in catches with 52.
The Falcons did not re-sign Davis but added Damien Williams in free agency.
Williams, who is 5-foot-11 and 225 pounds, played last season with the Bears after opting out of the 2020 season. He mostly has been a backup in the NFL over 97 games, making only 15 starts.
He has played with the Dolphins (2014-17), Chiefs (201819) and Bears (2021). He has rushed for 1,395 yards and 14 touchdowns and has caught 154 passes for 1,209 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“I’m a vet,” Williams said Tuesday. “I’ve been doing this for a little while, and also I have been in position to start and play a lot of football. I know what it takes to get those extra yards, those hard yards.”
Williams believes the Falcons have a chance to have a potent rushing attack.
“The backs that we have in our room are amazing,” Williams said. “We can all do it all. I feel like me being a vet, CP being a vet, having a Q (Qadree Ollison) come up as well, I feel like it’s a crazy backfield.”
Williams is fine with working in a committee approach. “Most definitely,” he said. He has been impressed with rookie running back Tyler Allgeier, who played at Brigham Young.
“He looks good,” Williams said. “When I was in Chicago, we had Khalil Herbert come in as a rookie (in 2021). I kind of see similarities, as far as patience and wanting to learn the game even more. He’s a smart kid. He knows the game. I love his feet when he runs the ball. Very patient.”
Williams will reunite with Falcons running backs coach Mike Pitre, who also was with the Bears last year.
“I know what my role has always been,” Williams said. “Just coming into somebody’s organization and help them get to a championship.”