When Steve Wiggins from the Quad Cities Daily called me last year and asked if I would like to be the “Law Enforcement Liaison” for the Daily, I hurriedly agreed. His idea was I could bridge the gap between the reader and Law Enforcement with a Law Enforcement prospective to help the reader understand. I have written a couple articles about the different training that a Law Enforcement Officer goes through.
The other day I was sitting in my office thinking about future articles that I would write for the Daily, when it came to me. I should interview several different people in Law Enforcement to let the readers see that Law Enforcement Officers are normal people also. They have problems, families, children, etc. just like everyone else.
My first interview is with Tuscumbia, Alabama Police Chief Tony Logan. Up front, I want to tell you that I grew up with Logan and we are friends. However, when I called him and asked him if he would do the interview, I told him that I would not pull any punches. I came up with the following questions beforehand to ask him. His replies will be after the question
- Tell me about your Law Enforcement Experience as well as educational success.
“I went to and graduated from Deshler High School in Tuscumbia. I then went to the University of North Alabama and got my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. After completing that, I returned to the University of North Alabama and got my Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice.
In 2011, I got my Doctorate in Public Safety Leadership. I have attended several advanced schools in different subject matters. I graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation national Academy in 1990. “
I started my Law Enforcement career at the Tuscumbia Police Department. I attended the Police Academy at the North East Alabama Police Academy at Jacksonville, Alabama. I left Tuscumbia and went to work at Florence Police Department where I worked up the ranks to Deputy Chief. I later returned to Tuscumbia Police Department as Chief of Police.”
- Tuscumbia Police Department has been showing videos on Facebook with Lt Smallwood. What has been the response on these videos?
“The responses to the videos have been phenomenal. We have received a lot of positive feedback from the videos, not just on Facebook, but on the City of Tuscumbia’s web page also. Lt Michael Smallwood has really made the concept fly. Some people watch the videos for entertainment value but most watch them to listen to the message that we are trying to put out there.
I got the idea for the videos from insurance commercials. Everyone knows who the mascot for Geico is, what color of pants the guy from State Farm is wearing as well as who Flo is from Progressive Insurance.”
- Tell me some of the differences you have seen at Tuscumbia Police Department from when you were here the first time and when you returned
“The City of Tuscumbia is a lot different now than when I was at the Police Department before. Of course, the City has grown. With growth of a City comes a growth in crime. That is everywhere. Now we have to be more proactive as far as crime than reactive as we have done in the past.
Technology is a lot different now. We have computers in the car that helps the Officer do his job faster and safer. Equipment has changed drastically. When I started we had Revolvers and straight wood batons. Now we have Semi Auto Pistols, Patrol Rifles and Tasers. We have more in our toolbox in the regards to Less Lethal Tactics.”
- What is the most prevalent crime that Tuscumbia Police Department faces?
“Drugs. Drugs contribute to a lot of our crimes such as Thefts. There are more thefts so that the thief can supply their drug habit.”
- Describe a Police Officer today vs when you started as a Police Officer.
“Today it is a more Knowledge based profession. Education for the Officer is very important. An Officer today has to face more difficult problems, so that is the reason we push Containing Education for the Officer. With the issue of lacking of funding for Mental Health problems, Officers are dealing with these subjects the best way they can. That is why we push training especially in the Mental Health Field toward our Officers.”
- Some of the Police Departments in the area are known as a “Training Ground” because they hire Officers who leave after completing the Police Academy. Tuscumbia Police Department had this reputation some years ago. However, since you have taken over, this has seemed to curtail with this department. Why do you think that is?
“We try to provide our Officers with a good work environment. We are working on our pay scale. We try to provide them the best equipment we can afford as well as send them to training. Retention of qualified Police Officers is a problem that all Police Departments face. We try to help them as much as we can. “
- Is a Metro Jail an answer to overcrowding and to help relieve some of the issues faced by Police Departments in Colbert County?
“Absolutely. We house the female inmates for the Colbert County Sheriff’s Department as well as inmates waiting to transfer to a State Facility. The Colbert County Jail is in need of repairs and/or expansion. A Metro Jail would make sense to the area to relieve a duplication of services provided by a Police Department that is running its own jail. I worked for Lauderdale County and I believe it would work here. “
- The City of Tuscumbia Basically had a new City Council sworn in this term. How is the working relationship so far with them?
“Tremendous. We have worked well with them. They have the city, employees as well as the citizens of Tuscumbia in mind. They are working toward goals to help them. They have a vision for the City of Tuscumbia. They want the City to progress.”
- You are married to Katie who is a member of the Tuscumbia City Council. Pros and Cons of this?
{Let me interject here. I told him to choose his words carefully because she would read this. LOL}
“It has been good. She called the State of Alabama Ethics Board before she decided to run to make sure it was okay. I have respect for her and her position on the Council. I am sure there will be a day when she will have to vote against something that might be different than my opinion. However, we know how to keep it separate. She is very good at her job and she cares for the citizens of Tuscumbia.”
- What are some of the projects or advances that we can see from the Tuscumbia Police Department in the future?
“We want to build on Community policing. Let me say it like this, is should be stated as Strategic Policing. We want to find and implement better ways to be efficient. We are looking for better ways to add to our computerization of the Department. I would like to see a Data base that all the Shoals Law Enforcement Agencies can utilize. I really believe that this would help solve crimes in this area. “
There you have it. An interview with Tony Logan. As stated before, I have grown up with Tony. After sitting here talking to him, I realize that he does have a love for his hometown of Tuscumbia as well as safe guarding the Citizens. He is proud of the Tuscumbia Police Department as well as his Officers. The next time you see Chief Logan, shake his hand and tell him thanks for his Service.
Bobby Inman is retired from Law Enforcement after 21 years of Service. He is the Store Manager of Southern Heritage Gun & Pawn in Tuscumbia. He has articles published in Law & Order Magazine, Police Marksman Magazine, Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement Magazine as well as several published ebooks on Amazon, Kobo Writing, as well as Nook (Barnes & Noble). He is owner of Poopiedog, an Animal Rescue Dachshund, who is his constant companion. He is a Senior Investigative Reporter for the Quad Cities Daily.
