Column: Meet Jemison’s police department
Published 1:39 pm Tuesday, September 8, 2009
By Shane Fulmer | Jemison Police Department
When first asked by the Advertiser staff if I would be willing to write a column for the paper, I immediately agreed because I felt like it would be a good opportunity to reach out to the people of our community, as well as across Chilton County, to provide information and to inform everyone of current situations surrounding the Jemison Police Department.
My very first thought was I wanted to introduce the Jemison Police Department, especially for those who may not know our department.
The Jemison Police Department has a staff of 11 certified full-time positions, including a park ranger at Minooka Park, 10 part-time officers, and one full-time Animal Control/Code Enforcement Officer.
We average 300 calls for service per month, not including traffic stops made and warrants served.
The department structure consists of a chief of police, two investigators who work narcotics, property crimes and crimes against persons; and six patrol officers, which includes two shift supervisors. Our patrol division is on a 12-hour schedule, which allows us to have more officers on shift and available at one time.
The entire staff, including the patrol officers, have different responsibilities and tasks they do within the department that is instrumental in the day-to-day operations and that would be considered outside their normal job duties. Some of those responsibilities and tasks include: coordinating events, such as National Night Out, traffic safety programs, sporting events, training and certification, drug and safety awareness and records management, just to name a few.
The Jemison Police Department also has a 10-member reserve officer program that assists the department in many ways on a volunteer basis.
Our reserve program is a good way to recruit good future police officers, and, by utilizing their time in the reserve program, it gives them the opportunity to learn the profession and it also gives me, as the chief of police, the opportunity to observe and train these officers who will ensure that the Jemison Police Department recruits and retains professional and well-trained police officers.
I would like to express my appreciation to the Jemison mayor and city council for their support as well as the people of Jemison.
We demand professionalism within our department, and that is something that will always be the utmost importance.
I welcome anyone whom I may be of any assistance to, to call me or come by the office at anytime.
I can be reached at 205-688-4492 ext. 209 or email at sfulmer@jemisonpd.org.
– Shane Fulmer is chief of the Jemison Police Department.
