Some of the Covington Police Department Fuzz Run's most memorable moments do not involve the race itself. One year stands out from the rest for current race director Chip Shirah. A girl was training with Kellye Personal Fitness to walk a 5K, and at the beginning of her journey, she could not even get out of her wheelchair. Nevertheless, she completed the walk, which prompted tears from spectators. "I remember [former assistant police chief] Almond Turner crying when she came [in]," Shirah said. CPD built the participant a wheelchair-accessible bathroom, a ramp at her house and more. Such moments were the reason the Fuzz Run began in 1984.
"This is something that we need to do," said former captain Willie Davis, one of the event's original organizers. "It's charitable, and we want to be a help to people. We want to reach out. We don't want people to just see us as a police department that's out here just arresting people. We want to build that relationship."
Across four decades, certain races have made an impression on other directors. The event in 2021 coincided with the 20th anniversary of 9/11, and the race incorporated a tribute. Three years prior, a special honor was held for CPD officer Matt Cooper, who was shot in the line of duty only days before the 2018 Fuzz Run. No matter the year, the mission behind the Fuzz Run has remained the same: to serve as a vehicle for community outreach and support. Those are the principles on which the race was built.
“This is something that we need to do. It’s charitable, and we want to be a help to people.” - Willie Davis
Officer Frank Hilton established Police Who Care Inc. as a way to financially assist CPD officers and their families when they were in need. Davis, along with then-chief Bobby Moody, thought of the Fuzz Run as a way to help raise funds. Turner and current Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown served with Davis and Moody as the committee to originally form the event. The first race, a 10K beginning on College Avenue in Covington, had 12 runners and one sponsor. Now, around 3,000 participate each year, along with an additional 1,000 attendees who do not race. There are 50–75 vendors who display their products at the expo, and sponsors fill the back of the race's commemorative shirt. On average, the Fuzz Run raises $100,000–$150,000 for the organization each year, making it the largest fundraiser for PWC.
As a result, PWC has broadened its reach. CPD is a longtime partner with the Newton County Special Olympics, and officers assist Alcovy CASA with two "Shop with a Cop" outings—one at Christmas and one for back to school. Officers receive a $250 allowance in case they encounter someone in need while on duty. Plus, if any officer falls in the line of duty anywhere in Georgia, PWC immediately donates money to his or her family to get funds to them right away. CPD started a community outreach unit the same year the Fuzz Run began. Former race director Ken Malcom believes the two have had a symbiotic relationship.
“This project naturally fit under the philosophy of what our goals were in community policing projects," he said. "This was an absolute home run with what we were trying to establish. We suddenly had resources to grow the race and grow Police Who Care.”
Shirah stressed that none of what PWC accomplishes goes without credit to Hilton, who died in April at the age of 89. This year's Fuzz Run shirt will honor Hilton for his efforts and contributions to the Covington Police Department and Newton County community.
The Fuzz Run draws people from outside the local area, too. People from all over the world have participated throughout the years. One South Carolinian started when the race was in its infancy and continues to participate. Runners travel from Nigeria and Korea to take part, as well. However, what catapulted the Fuzz Run to true prominence came from inside Newton County. An estimated 20–30 area businesses are known to pay for their employees and their families to participate. Years ago, CPD visited area schools when the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program was at its height. By promoting the event directly to the teachers and students, the Fuzz Run enjoyed a major boost in participation. On one occasion, approximately 150–200 people from East Newton Elementary School ran the race.
This 2026 Fuzz Run is scheduled for Sept. 11–12. Per CovingtonFuzzRun.com, it is the "largest participatory event in Covington, Georgia, year after year." Festivities kick off on the eve of the race with a two-day expo and the Friday Fuzz Walk. Race day features Mary Beth's Red Bird Run—a 50-yard dash for kids 5 and under—and a one-mile Fun Run. The day concludes with the 5K Peachtree Road Race qualifier. Organizing an event of this size involves a year-long process. Preparation begins just a couple of days after the race.
"I started something years ago. It was called the Good, the Bad and the Ugly," Shirah said. "We met [the following] Monday morning when it was fresh on our minds and [started] going over it."
In October, organizers host a lunch thanking the sponsors. Weekly planning meetings start in January. By June, the vision for the race starts to become clear. Former race director Allen Martin pointed out that the event could not come to fruition without the help of the CPD, civilian volunteers and other police departments. He likened actual race day to cooking Thanksgiving dinner. It takes a great deal of preparation, but the actual event goes by in a blink.
"It's good to have those extra hands, because [all former and current race directors] can attest [to the fact that] we can't do it all," Martin said. "Sometimes we try to, but it's good to know that you've got folks you can count on to drive through a different portion of whatever the responsibilities are."
The Covington Police Department's Fuzz Run is more than a series of races or a once-a-year event. It serves as a means to build a stronger community. Across the 43 years of the event, a group of five race directors believe that goal has been accomplished. Beyond race times and medals, organizers contend that the event has helped bring people closer together.
"From a race director's point of view, that's just a small part of it—who actually wins the race," said Paul Dailey, another former race director. "It's all the activities, the event, getting the opportunity to get people from the community here [and] people from the outside to visit Covington and actually see our community. That's what makes the biggest winners."
