TheHomewoodStar.com
January 2014
Fit to serve
Officer Steve Hensley takes his shot after running the obstacle course at the Eastern LawFit Challenge. Photo by Sergeant Eric Hampton.
While you might assume the main causes of death in police work are from gunfire or even vehicular accidents, the number of officers who are dying from heart attacks is on the rise. Too many deaths involve officers who have collapsed either on the job or during a training exercise. Many are under the age of 50. For this reason, Homewood Police recently established a dedicated Fitness Team to help encourage officer fitness, giving them an extra incentive to get and stay healthy. In October, the team travelled to Virginia Beach for the Eastern LawFit Challenge, a competition for law enforcement that brings together departments from across the country. LawFit is designed to test an officer’s physical and mental endurance, combining classic strength exercises, running and shooting skills, much like the PT test an officer will take at the academy in order to graduate. At the competition, Homewood placed in the top 10 in several events and also received the John R. Linn Award, which is given to those who reflect the spirit and commitment of the LawFit Challenge. The team has also created a renewed awareness of the importance of fitness within the department and is encouraging more officers to participate. In June, the team will return to Olive Branch, Miss., to compete in the National LawFit Challenge. So far they have been the only Alabama team to compete but are actively recruiting more agencies from the state to participate. Companies and individuals can sponsor the
Officer Scott Zimmerman spots for Officer Trent Ricketts as he warms up for the bench press competition. Officers Jason Cuccini and Steve Hensley look on. Photo by Sergeant Eric Hampton.
Homewood Police Fitness Team by donating through the Homewood Police Foundation. Donations are tax deductible and will be used to help pay for the officers’ entry fees, uniforms and other expenses involved in representing the City in future competitions. To learn more, contact homewoodpolicefoundation@charter.net. -Submitted by Homewood Police Department
Sidewalk update By MADOLINE MARKHAM The Homewood City Council has been in the process of fine-tuning details for sidewalk projects in the city. Roseland Drive A new sidewalk of more than 700 square feet on the north side of Roseland Drive was scheduled to be completed by the end of December. The existing curb was brought out, and the sidewalk was placed in the street, rather than in the city’s right of way as originally proposed. In total, the project is estimated to cost $40,000. Street parking was preserved for residents without driveway access, as requested by area residents. In addition, part of the road was narrowed to calm traffic, also a concern of residents. The Council is also considering constructing center islands down on Roseland to further calm traffic and add to its aesthetics “This sidewalk is huge in the linking of Homewood, and this decision was, to date, one of the toughest we have made,” Ward 4 City Council Representative Heather Reid said. “A considerable effort was made to balance the needs of the ward versus the wishes of the
immediately affected residents.” According to Reid and fellow Ward 4 Representative Jenifer Wallis, the sidewalk will be a major connecting point for Edgewood residents to walk to the library and to areas of Mayfair. Mecca Avenue A new sidewalk on Mecca Avenue, a mostly one-way street, will help students who walk from Homewood Middle School to Oxmoor Road. The 646 feet of sidewalk will cost $95,000 for engineering and construction. The project includes building out 4 feet of sidewalk on Mecca and short portions of Highland Road and Peerless Avenue. Mayor Scott McBrayer plans to bid the project to Gresham Smith Partners. Rumson Road In Ward 5, a street survey will be taken to determine the cost of potential sidewalks on Rumson Road, a street where many children play and walk to school. The revised plan would place sidewalks only in the most dangerous section, from Windsor to Yorkshire, and save the rest of the original project, which would cost between $260,000 and $280,000, for the road for future years.
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