Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Georgia Man Sheds 100+ Pounds to Become a Police Officer

James Cornelius said that he wanted a good job in order to take care of his son, and he knew that in order to make the force at APD, he would have to change his diet and increase his efforts to get into shape.

August 2, 2018
Georgia Man Sheds 100+ Pounds to Become a Police Officer

Officer James Cornelius shed more than 100 pounds and shaved 10 minutes off his mile-and-a-half run in order to achieve his goal of joining the Atlanta Police Department. Image courtesy of APD / Twitter.

1 min to read


A Georgia man bound and determined to become an officer with the Atlanta Police Department shed more than 100 pounds and shaved 10 minutes off his mile-and-a-half run in order to achieve his goal, according to WGCL-TV.

James Cornelius told the news station that he wanted a good job in order to take care of his son, and he knew that in order to make the force at APD, he would have to change his diet and increase his efforts to get into shape.

Ad Loading...

"I was 337 pounds and couldn't really run down the street," Cornelius said.

APD said in a Tweet that Cornelius was recently sworn in and works in Zone 4 in Southwest Atlanta.

APD PROUD: Officer James Cornelius is our #MondayMotivation! He lost 100 pounds while working to become a police officer in the APD Training Academy. Officer Cornelius was recently sworn in and works in Zone 4 (Southwest Atlanta). #BeforeandAfter #WeightLoss #GrindNowShineLater pic.twitter.com/pfvAnn3U9t

— Atlanta Police Dept (@Atlanta_Police) July 23, 2018

More Training

Blue graient background with logos for InVeris, Caldwell, and FATS.
TrainingJanuary 14, 2026

Caswell Live Fire Spins Off from InVeris

Caswell Live Fire has spun off from parent company InVeris, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Caswell’s founding. Over the past 100 years, Caswell has developed pioneering solutions that support military, law enforcement, and commercial clients worldwide.

Read More →
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips with a yellow headline that reads When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?
Patrolby Wayne ParhamOctober 26, 2025

When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?

Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips with a yellow headline that reads When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?

Read More →
Coffee Break With Police Experts thumnail for topic of Using Your Patrol Vehicle for Cover.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamOctober 3, 2025

Coffee Break with Police Experts: Using Your Patrol Vehicle for Cover

In this video, hear from Dustin Mowery, a product specialist at Team Wendy, as he discusses how to best use a patrol vehicle for cover.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Police officer crouching behind vehicle, holding rifle in tactical stance
Vehicle Opsby Wayne ParhamAugust 29, 2025

Using Patrol Vehicles for Cover

While a patrol vehicle offers some cover protection when taking fire, remain mobile and don’t stick to one piece of cover indefinitely. Dustin Mowery, of Team Wendy, shares what he teaches about using vehicles as cover.

Read More →
TrainingAugust 25, 2025

San Francisco Police Recruit Dies in Training

Recruit Officer Jon-Marques Psalms, 30, reportedly suffered a medical emergency after completing a training exercise on Wednesday August 20, 2025, at the Academy.

Read More →
TechnologyAugust 25, 2025

POLICE and Flock Safety Present Webinar on Combining LPR with Real-Time Video

The webinar titled “Beyond the Plate: Real-Time Video Intelligence for Police Operations” will show how pairing LPR data with live camera feeds delivers faster, safer, and more coordinated responses on everything from stolen vehicles to active BOLOs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Trainingby Christian BaileyAugust 1, 2025

How to Join a Bicycle Unit

A great bicycle officer has a strong service mentality, paramount knowledge of laws, a thirst for new knowledge, and someone who can adapt to change easily. If this describes you, your agency's bicycle unit might be a good fit.

Read More →
PatrolJune 18, 2025

Dave Smith: Be Prepared for the Ultimate Contest

You need to train like an elite athlete for the life-and-death challenge you may some day face on the job.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
TechnologyMay 19, 2025

First Look: Adding AI to Simulator Training

The new artificial intelligence feature for MILO’s VR and Focus3D simulators gives trainees a chance to practice and refine their communications skills while working scenarios.

Read More →