Algood Police want to improve the department’s relationship with the community through a new officer introduction process.
Public Information Officer David Corley said part of the change was introducing recent hires with a ceremonial swearing in at a recent City Council meeting. Corley said those officers were previously sworn in when they were hired.
“We wanted to kind of start doing some things more publicly with the City of Algood,” Corley said. “We are in the process also of revamping all of our social media, website and things of that nature. And we just kind of wanted to connect with our community.”
Corley said the department wants to better communicate with the community when new things happen or new officers are brought aboard.
Corley said the relationship between law enforcement officers and the community is the upmost importance. He said it is a vital lifeline for both the public and the officers.
Corley said Algood Police officers work around the clock to ensure safety on the roads, but they also make time to be visible and active with community engagement. Corley said people need to be able to trust law enforcement.
“We are very blessed in this area,” Corley said. “People, as they see our officers out in town, they’ll throw their hands up and wave. And we want to be able to let people know that we are there. We try to do engagements, even with the little kids like in daycares and schools so these children see officers and see them as human, not just someone who wears a badge.”
Corley said kids are more likely to come and interact with the officers if they see them as more than someone who rides around in a patrol car.
Corley said hiring in the Algood Police department has not been a problem over the last several months. He said the three new officers have all been on-boarded over the last few months but there is still one open spot in the department. Corley said this has not been too straining on the department.
“It does require sometimes shifting of personnel to cover all of the requirements, the things that we would be tasked with,” Corley said. “Having a full staffing would make for a little bit smoother operation, but it does not impact the overall operation of the department in a bad way.”
Corley said departments across the state struggle to recruit and retain great officers, but the Algood Police try to hire the most qualified officers that are available. Of the three officers introduced at the Council meeting, two have worked in other departments, and one of them has experience in the military.
Corley said the state has made it easier for departments to hire non-certified officers too, and new legislation allows trainees to attend a police academy with state funds.
