Police Department

The Office of the Chief of Police is comprised of the Chief, 1 secretary, the Police Chaplain, and 1 officer assigned to the Baldwin County Joint Drug Task Force.

Chief Michael E. Rowland was appointed Chief of Police in April, 2005 after having served as the Deputy Director of the Southwest Alabama Police Academy in Bay Minette for nearly 2 years. Prior to that time, Chief Rowland served as a Captain in the Mobile Police Department in Mobile, Alabama where he retired with nearly 30 years of service.

Chief Rowland introduced community-oriented policing to the City of Bay Minette and has implemented numerous programs targeting youth crime, gang prevention, and violence from a problem-solving perspective. All the community-wide programs created by the Bay Minette Police Department target quality of life issues with the goal of crime reduction. The foundation for these programs is rooted in BMPD’s Project Safe Neighborhoods.
 

The Patrol Division is the backbone of the police department and is responsible for the initial response to calls for service throughout the community.   Officers assigned to the Patrol Division work 12 hour shifts. 

The division is directed by a Patrol Commander with the rank of Lieutenant, who supervises 4 Shift Sergeants. Each Shift Sergeant supervises a Corporal and several Police Officers.

The Investigative Division consists of the Captain of Investigations and 2 investigators. 

These officers are responsible for conducting investigations of major crimes within the City and to work cooperatively with other outside agencies to resolve crimes and criminal activity that directly affect residents and other stakeholders in the City of Bay Minette.

The Animal Control Officer (ACO) has primary responsibility to investigate allegations of animal abuse, cruelty to animals, and animal nuisance within the City of Bay Minette. 

The ACO also works with outside public service agencies and private partnerships to insure that complaints of animal abuse, cruelty, or animal nuisances are fully investigated and handled with care and compassion for the animals consistent with the goal of public safety.

The Communications and Records Division is supervised by a Communications/Records Supervisor who oversees the daily operations of the department’s dispatching and records keeping functions. The division is comprised of a supervisor, 6 radio dispatchers, and 1 records clerk.

Bay Minette PD’s Communications and Records Division uses the most advanced equipment available to law enforcement today. The radio system utilizes a digital format with multi-agency interoperability and computer-aided dispatch functions. All communications into and out of the dispatch room are recorded on digital voice recorders that are easily stored and retrievable on a secure hard drive.

The records keeping function is supported by a computer-based records management system that is state-of-the-art and is accessible from anywhere in the world by internet. Police officers and other employees entering information into the records database can do so by laptop computer utilizing either a hardwired internet connection or wireless internet. This allows the police department to reduce paperwork and cut overall costs associated with storing documents and performing data processing functions. In addition, the system makes all reports and other information that is entered into the records management system immediately accessible, which is especially important for use in real-time crime analysis.
 

The Bay Minette Police Department has 8 budgeted positions for Auxiliary/Reserve Officers. These officers are citizens who provide uniformed police services to the community on a volunteer basis under the direct supervision of a sworn police officer. 

Auxiliary/Reserve Officers are required to attend one organizational meeting per month and ride at least one 12 hour shift per month in Patrol. These officers are also utilized during community events like Christmas Fest, Mardi gras, and other civic functions. 

To be an Auxiliary/Reserve Officer volunteers must meet all training requirements established by the Alabama Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (APOSTC) and maintain those training levels throughout each calendar year.

The Bay Minette Police Department also utilizes other citizen volunteers to provide services to the community. Our volunteers are graduates of the Bay Minette Police Department Citizen's Academy and are certified members of the Citizen's Academy Alumni Association. 

Volunteers have performed duties such as data processing, answering phones at the police department and city hall, traffic control, and acting as ambassadors for the police department and the City at functions such as Mardi gras, Christmas Fest, local sports events, and the annual RIDEYELLOW Bike Ride for Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong Foundation.

Members of the Citizens Academy Alumni Association have also conducted fund raising events to supplement and offset costs for needed police equipment. For instance, the first fund raiser for the CAAA was conducted to raise over $800.00 to purchase a bullet-resistant vest for the departmental K-9, Buster.
 

The Police Chaplain Corps is a multidenominational organization which integrates the services of all the churches within the City of Bay Minette. The purpose of the Chaplain Corps is to provide faith-based services to victims of crime, domestic violence, abuse, or other issues affecting the quality of life of our citizens. Our Chaplains serve as volunteers on an on-call basis and have provided a variety of services to families and victims of crime such as counseling services, sheltering, and food for homeless persons, in addition to other community needs.

The Police Chaplain Corps is coordinated by a full-time paid Police Chaplain, who is also a police officer certified by the Alabama Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission and the International Police Chaplains Association.
 

The Bay Minette Police Department takes applications on a continuing basis.  Applications may be obtained at City Hall or by downloading the application from the City website.  Applications must be returned to the City Clerk, Rita Findley, at City Hall.  Incomplete or illegible applications will not be considered. 

All applicants for employment with the Police Department must live within 10 miles of the city limits or be willing to relocate within 10 miles of the city limits prior to being considered for employment.

Applicants for entry level Police Officer positions must be at least 21 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED from an accredited school.  Applicants must pass a background check, oral interview, a physical ability/agility test, and a written exam.  Successful candidates must also pass a psychological exam, polygraph, and general physical examination.  If hired, candidates must also pass a 12 week police academy and successfully complete a 12 week field training program. 

Applicants for lateral entry positions must pass a background check and oral interview. 

Applicants for all other positions must hold a high school diploma or GED from an accredited school and pass a written exam and oral interview.  

The City of Bay Minette and the Bay Minette Police Department is an equal opportunity employer.

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