In the early mornings and afternoons around Station Camp schools in Gallatin, students and parents are greeted by a familiar figure in uniform—Patrolman Chris Lauderdale, known affectionately as “the Dancing Cop.”

Chris doesn’t just direct traffic. He grooves, waves, and smiles through the routine, turning a school crosswalk into a stage for positivity. “Smiles are free,” he says. “They don’t cost you anything, but they can change someone’s entire outlook on the world.”

A patrol officer with the Gallatin Police Department, Chris logs more time in school traffic than anyone else in the city or county—covering Station Camp Elementary, Middle, and High School twice a day. But to him, it’s more than just directing traffic. “This is positive policing,” he explains. “Those little kids seeing me now—and even the ones about to graduate—if they see a police officer in a positive light, it can help set the tone for the rest of their lives.”

Chris’s path to law enforcement is anything but typical. After 30 years in the industrial and engineering world, he left corporate life behind and took a leap of faith—becoming a reserve officer, and eventually, a full-time patrolman at the age of 50. “For my command staff to take a chance on me at this age was amazing,” he said, giving special credit to Capt. Scotty King, who spent two years encouraging him to pursue his dream. “He didn’t give up on me.”

His decision to serve came as part of a bigger life transformation. Labor Day 2025 marks six years of sobriety for Chris, who openly shares his story of addiction, faith, and redemption. “I woke up in a field one day and said, ‘God, help me.’ I had had enough.” 

Married for three years, he has five children and credits his renewed faith and family for helping him turn his life around. “I gave everything up to God, and everything changed for the better.”

Beyond his police work, Chris is a passionate local historian, active on the city’s Historical Commission and involved with the Historic Preservation Collaborative. His deep Sumner County roots and his love for community keep him busy when he’s not on duty. Whether volunteering, exploring cemeteries, or engaging with his church, he finds healing and purpose in service.

“Positivity is everything,” Chris says. “You can’t always control the negativity, but you can control how you deal with it.”

And if you’re lucky enough to pass by Station Camp during school hours, you’ll see how one man’s joy, faith, and commitment to community can quite literally stop traffic—and make it smile.