CORNELIA – Cornelia Police Department recently recognized Rebecca Pontes for her work in helping design the department’s challenge coin.
“We wanted something to commemorate our new beginnings while recognizing our city’s history,” said Assistant Chief Jonathan Roberts. “Rebecca did an amazing job.”
Roberts said the project is one he has wanted for about a year. It came to fruition when he saw some drawings by Pontes, a full-time student at the University of North Georgia and a part-time employee of the city.
“One day, I saw a set of hand-drawn postcards of the depot area and found out the artist was a part-time employee that works at the depot,” Roberts said. “I told her my vision and gave her free artistic rein. What she came up with is just as beautiful as the postcards at the historic train depot.”
Challenge coins are small, metal coins that fit in the palm of your hand. Each has a unique design that belongs to the organization it represents.
This specially-designed coins represent organizations, units and teams. They can also represent an achievement, an anniversary or special event.
Roberts presented Pontes with a letter of appreciation from Chief of Police Chad Smith, along with a copy of the proofs to add to her portfolio, and one of the coins.
“There is no doubt she is an amazing artist and we thank her very much for doing this coin for us,” Roberts said. “The front side depicts our new more modern police badge with our mission statement ‘To protect and Serve’. The back is a beautiful portrait of the historic train, Big Red Apple as well as the iconic Chenocetah Tower. Inscribed are the words ‘Let the tracks lead you here’. We are very proud of how these turned and what they represent.”
