Russellville Police Department

400 N. Jackson Ave. | Russellville 256-332-2230

“It’s got to be more than a job. If you’re doing it as a job, I don’t think your heart’s probably in the right place.”

Those words encapsulate Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett’s view when it comes to community policing. Hargett, a 1986 Russellville alumnus who has been with the RPD almost 17 years and served at the sheriff’s office for 14 years before that, speaks with the voice of experience. His view is informed by his years as a reserve deputy, jailer, dispatcher, deputy and chief investigator at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office before transitioning into the chief’s role at the RPD.

“The way we police has changed dramatically, and the way the public sees law enforcement has changed, especially over the past four years –although not necessarily here in Russellville,” Hargett said, pointing out that smaller towns like those in Franklin County have been largely insulated from the social unrest toward law enforcement in larger metropolitan areas. “Overall I think most of our community is very supportive of the police department.”

Prior to stepping into law enforcement, Hargett worked at a mobile home plant and then as an EMT with Russellville Ambulance Service. Although he enjoyed both of those fields, he said he realized his true passion when he joined the FCSO as a reserve deputy at the encouragement of a lifelong friend at the department.

“You have the enjoyment you get out of helping people plus just the excitement of some of the things going on,” Hargett said. Even in his early days as a reserve he worked long hours – even when he was offduty. “Back in those days we worked for free a lot because we loved doing it.” The long hours and other challenges were worth it because of the impact he and his fellow officers were making through their service. “It would give you a good feeling.”

That good feeling intensified as Hargett came under consideration for the chief’s role in Russellville. As he progressed through the interview process, Hargett said he began to proactively plan and suggest ways he could help grow and develop the department. “It was exciting, but also I was nervous,” Hargett said. “The first day I went into the office, I went in and shut the door and thought, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’”

He did what he had to do: He got to work.

Hargett led a charge to digitize files into a computerized records management system, and under his tenure the department changed its shift schedule, switching to 12-hour shifts with rotating off days. “It was a big morale builder for the officers, that they could know to plan down the road on having every other weekend off,” Hargett said.

Patrol officers at the RPD work in four shifts, led by sergeants and overseen by lieutenants. Other roles at the RPD include traffic officer, compliance officer, chaplain, investigators, dispatchers, school resource officers and a records clerk.

Hargett said while the RPD is a “young department now because of retirements and turnover,” that means there’s room for growth. Although job-hopping has been an issue, he said that’s just part of the profession. “I would like to see our department grow in size as the city grows,” he said. “All we can do is the best we can do … When the community needs us, we’re here.”

Hargett and his wife Paige, who just retired from working as a fourthgrade teacher at Russellville City Schools, have two children – a son who works for Mar-Jac Poultry and a daughter at the University of North Alabama studying early childhood education.

RUSSELLVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT

DISPATCHER ADAN ABARCA Communications

RPD/Overall tenure: 3 years Best thing about job: Being able to help and give back to the community Fun fact: My favorite hobbies are working out and hiking.

OFFICER TIM BALCOM

Patrol

RPD/Overall tenure: 6 years Best thing about job: Every day is different; it’s always something new. Fun fact: I like to play PlayStation and video games.

CHAPLAIN BOBBY BROWN SGT. CRAIG BULLION

Patrol

RPD tenure: 5 years Other departments: FCSO Total tenure: 7 years Best thing about job: Being able to serve the community I grew up in Family: Wife, three kids and one grandchild Fun fact: I enjoy cooking on the grill or smoker.

OFFICER REECE COAN School Resource Officer (Russellville Middle School)

RPD/Overall tenure: 12 years Best thing about job: The kids at school make my day. Family: Daughters Kara and Maggie and grandson JD Fun fact: I love Alabama football and camping at the lake.

DISPATCHER LARIZA DELGADO

Communications

RPD/Overall tenure: 2 years Best thing about job: The ability to learn something new on a daily basis, and my coworkers Fun fact: I attend Athens State University.

SGT. DAKOTA DEMASTUS

Patrol

RUSSELLVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT

LT. JOE HARGETT

Investigations

OFFICER DEREK HENDERSON

Patrol

RPD tenure: 3 years Other departments: Haleyville PD Total tenure: 3.5 years Best thing about job: The diverse calls and catching bad guys Fun fact: My favorite hobbies are playing slow-pitch softball and working out. I also play guitar.

OFFICER COLIN JAMES

Patrol

RPD tenure: 3 years Other departments: Lafayette County Sheriff (Mississippi), Colbert County Sheriff, Leighton PD Total tenure: 4 years Best thing about job: Being able to help make a positive difference in the direction of someone’s life Fun fact: I have a college degree in automotive collision/ repair and one in criminal justice as well.

DISPATCHER PATTI LANDERS

Communications

RPD tenure: 22 years Other departments: FCSO Total tenure: 24 years Best thing about job: Getting to help people Family: Husband Byron Fun fact: I collect Winnie the Pooh.

LT. DUSTIN LOVELADY Patrol

RPD/Overall tenure: 5 years Best thing about job: The ability to give back to a city that has taken me in as one of their own Family: Wife, five bonus children and one on the way, due in July Fun fact: I spent 20 years working on an ambulance in a neighboring county and volunteering with my community fire department as a lieutenant and EMT since 1997.

CAPT. SCOTTY LOWERY

Operations

RPD tenure: 27 years Other departments: Phil Campbell PD Total tenure: 28 years Best thing about job: Helping people Family: Wife Kellon, daughters Hannah and Haley and granddaughters Addi and Anna Fun fact: I’m a Hodgkins cancer survivor since 1986. *Retired January 2021

OFFICER CARLOS LUCAS

Patrol

RPD tenure: 2 years Other departments: FCSO Total tenure: 4 years Best thing about job: Everything Fun fact: I own two dogs.

RUSSELLVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT

SGT. NICK MCCORMICK Patrol

RPD tenure: 1 year Other departments: Lawrence County Sheriff Total tenure: 6 years Best thing about job: Criminal/narcotics interdiction. It’s a feeling like no other when you find a load of illegal drugs or a person that is wanted. Family: Girlfriend Greer Hart and baby on the way Fun fact: I like to do anything that gets me outdoors.

OFFICER KRISTA MCLENNON

Patrol

RPD/Overall tenure: 3 years Best thing about job: Helping people Family: Wife Fun fact: I’m going back to school for nursing.

SGT. ANTONIO MELECIO

Patrol

RPD/Overall tenure: 4 years Best thing about job: I like to get out and earn the trust of the community and kids. Family: A daughter and a son Fun fact: I like spending time with my kids, family and friends, and I like watching Auburn football in the fall.

LT. MIKE MILLER

Patrol

RPD/Total tenure: 9 years Best thing about job: The level of responsibility entrusted to us Family: Wife Alisha and two daughters Fun fact: I served as an infantryman in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division.

OFFICER DAVID ROMANS Patrol

RPD/Overall tenure: 12 years Best thing about job: Interaction with the community Family: Wife and one son Fun fact: Nothing makes me prouder than watching my son play and be part of the Russellville Golden Tiger baseball team.

DISPATCHER DEREK RUSSELL

Communications

LT. BRIAN SHACKELFORD

*retired January 2021

RUSSELLVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT

OFFICER CHAD SHEFFIELD Traffic

RPD/Overall tenure: 15 years Best thing about job: Serving the community of Russellville and its citizens Fun fact: I coached intramural ping pong at NorthwestShoals.

SGT. JORDAN TESTERMAN

Investigations RPD/Overall tenure: 5 years Best thing about job: Investigating, interviewing suspects, solving crimes Family: Son Judge Demastus Fun fact: I love spending time with my son.

OFFICER SAMMIE WASHINGTON School Resource Officer (West Elementary School)

RPD tenure: 4 years Other departments: Northwest-Shoals Total tenure: 35 years Best thing about job: Teaching the kids Family: Wife Penny

LT. JAKE TOMPKINS

Investigations

RPD tenure: 13 years Other departments: FCSO Total tenure: almost 15 years Best thing about job: The experience working with different people each day Family: Wife Kayla and daughter Andersyn Blake Fun fact: My hobbies are cooking, mowing grass, playing tea party with Andersyn and drinking coffee with Kayla on the back porch.

SGT. BRANDI WHITELEY Records

RPD/Total tenure: 14 years Best thing about job: Meeting new people and helping the community Fun fact: I enjoy anything outdoors and practice taxidermy on the side.

OFFICER JOSH TOMPKINS

School Resource Officer (Russellville High School)

RPD tenure: 13 years Other Departments: FCSO Total tenure: 17 years Best thing about job: How each day is different Family: Wife Heather, son Weston and daughter Lauren Fun fact: I play video games and fish a lot.