ONESHIFT CIT Y O F M O BIL E P UBL I C S AF E T Y E M P LOYE E MAG A Z I N E
Issue 4, January 2022
RARELY SEEN, MOSTLY HEARD CITY RECOGNIZES FIRE AND POLICE DISPATCHERS AS FIRST RESPONDERS
INCREASE YOUR RETIREMENT, LEARN HOW IT WORKS! Get Fully Involved: Choose to mentor & perpetuate positive outcomes
THE LEADERS’ MESSAGE BOARD A Message from Public Safety Director Lawrence Battiste
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL! The Department of Public Safety is optimistic about the future of its service to the communities of Mobile. Congratulations, respectively, to the Officer of the Month and Firefighter of the Month. You are certainly appreciated. First responders are often considered “real-life” superheroes and they are traditionally described as emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, firefighters, and police officers. As public safety awareness is evolving, a realization that a key component of the classification of “First Responder” is being recognizing. That component is that of the public safety dispatcher.
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ublic safety is a collaborative service effort of the city’s police and fire departments to provide the optimum value of service to our communities.
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Today, we salute you. You are where our service begins and oftentimes you are the ones that are able to calm a frightened and confused caller as they wait on our fire and police department personnel to arrive. You are also the ones whose competence and ability contributes to the safety of our police officers and your co-first responders. With the fast approaching Mardi Gras season, I would like to thank you all in advance for the outstanding service that you have provided to the city of Mobile’s citizens during the Mardi Gras season throughout the past years. I realize that this year’s celebration is somewhat unprecedented as we navigate through trying to remain safe and provide safety and protection for our citizens during this pandemic, while yet giving the members of our communities a social outlet that lessens the stress of experiencing a feeling of “cabin fever.” Your willingness to be there for these events during the carnival season is certainly appreciated. Humbly appreciative to each of you,
Fire Chief Jeremy Lami
Happy New Year! 2022 is well underway and Mardi Gras is right around the corner. In the coming weeks, we will be releasing the Strategic Plan for the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department and it will provide a roadmap for the future. There’s never a finish line and it’s imperative we continue to focus on improving. I’m excited about a transparent document with strategic initiatives that provide clarity regarding the vision and future of MFRD. The cover story this month is focused on recognizing our public safety dispatchers and it’s well deserved. They are an important part of our team and the first link in our response model. If you have a moment, reach out to them and thank them for their service or schedule a visit to 911 and learn more about their role. I would like to thank them for a job well done and their unwavering commitment to public safety. I sincerely appreciate all that you do. I pray daily for all of you and look forward to the rest of 2022! Keep moving forward,
Police Chief Paul Prine
As we welcome the beginning of a new year, I am certainly grateful that our department is continuing to maintain an optimist outlook. I realize that although we continue to face many obstacles that are broadened by the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has affected so many areas of our lives, you have never failed to rise to the occasion and uphold the oath that you have taken to serve and protect. The city of Mobile will return to celebrating the Mardi Gras season. I realize that there are concerns about safety but the department is always concerned about the safety and wellbeing of its members and the protection of its citizens. Thank you always for providing optimum protection and public service to the city of Mobile. The city has recognized our public safety dispatchers as first responders. Let me say that first responders are the people whose job is to respond immediately (first). Public safety dispatchers, thank you for your conscientiousness, careful and diligent service. Indeed, you are certainly worthy to the title “first responder” as our response to crime and calls for help most often and without question begins first with you. I say again with great enthusiasm, “We are one” and I am sure that the Mobile Police Department will continue in its growth to become the quintessential police department in this country. “Mission First” O N E S H I F T M AG A Z I N E - 3
THis Issue Contributors On the Cover: Bessie Brown, MFRD Dispatcher Captain Kevin Rodgers MPD Second Precinct Deputy Chief D. M. Penn Sr. MFRD Support Sergeant Jeremy March MPD Office of Strategic Initiatives
WHOSE MONTH IS IT? 2022 CITY OF MOBILE PUBLIC SAFETY CALENDAR NOW AVAILABLE!
Ruth Grant MPD Records Unit Tonya Calhoun MPD Office of the Chief John Weichman MPD Crime Prevention Public Safety Dispatchers MPD and MFRD Tonyia Percy MCPAAA Rose Swafford MCPAAA
Editorial Staff
City of Mobile Public Safety Charlette Solis Public Affairs Manager Steven Millhouse Public Information Officer
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The month of January 2022 features a few of our law enforcement women who serve as detectives. From the left, Detective Brittany Black (GID First Precinct), Detective Melissa Hollis (Special Victims Detail), Detective Ophelia Weathington (Internal Affairs Unit), and Detective Sarah Badon (Special Victims Detail). Photo taken at The Battle House. P I C K U P Y O U R C O P Y at Mobile Fire-Rescue Supply, 2851 Old Shell Road, or at Mobile Police Headquarters, 2460 Government Blvd. To have your copies delivered, call 251-348-1732 or 251-654-2757. Cost $10.
Increase Your Retirement Submitted by Captain Kevin Rodgers, MPD Second Precinct
Almost 30 years ago, I was a young officer and figured I would never be old and ready to retire. Fortunately, I had enough sense to listen to a few old timers and took their advice. For that reason, I want to share a piece of advice that I was given back then with some of you younger officers. Please consider enrolling in the Alabama Peace Officers’ Annuity and Benefit Fund. I am aware that everyone seems to have their hand in your pockets and wants to sell you insurance, deferred comp investments or legal protection. Do yourself a favor and at least investigate this program. H E R E I S H O W I T W O R K S : Any POST certified officer in the state of Alabama is allowed into the program. You are charged $20 per month and must be in for a minimum of 15 years. $20 x12 = $240 per year x 15 years = $3,600 At 15 years, you will receive $103.75 per month for THE REST OF YOUR LIFE! $3,600 divided by $103.75 = 34.69 months You will get your entire investment back in less than three years after retirement. Plus, your survivors get another $2,500 to bury you.
Of course, the more years of participation you have the more you will get back on a monthly basis. Guys, this is a NO-BRAINER! This program is funded through member contributions and receives $1 for every traffic citation written in the state of Alabama. In addition, if you leave the Mobile Police Department but stay in law enforcement in the state of Alabama, you retain your years of participation and may continue to accrue more years if you continue to contribute. If you get out of law enforcement all together, you get back 90% of your investment. I am only a member of the annuity and gain nothing by enticing you to join. I am just a strong believer in the fund and firmly believe it is a great investment. I do not believe enough people are aware that it even exists. I hope you will at least investigate it and make the decision that is best for you. Believe it or not, one day you will be old and thinking about retirement too. Be Safe, Captain Kevin Rodgers Second Precinct
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FULLY INVOLVED
Choose to Mentor & Perpetuate Positive Outcomes Submitted by Deputy Chief Dwayne Penn Sr., MFRD Support
Mentorship and leadership can be defined in several different ways and concepts. One of the purest ways of defining leadership is mentorship. Unlike parenting, leadership and mentorship can be quite similar and at times one in the same. Parenting most often is assumed by birthright and can be considered more of a responsibility or perhaps an obligation. Moreover, good parenting can be a direct correlation to the child (mentee) and to the parent (mentor ). Mentorship is something slightly different in that mentoring is providing leadership, supervision, or companionship to someone who has nothing to offer the mentor. True mentorship is to provide someone with assistance and the mentor knows that the mentee has no way of repaying the mentor. The reward to the mentor is simply seeing the success of the mentee. Mentorship is paying it forward and giving someone your time, your talent, your expertise, and
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your unique in-depth perspective of years of experience. “I thought advancement was based entirely on competence. I later found out it was more about taking someone under your wing and demystifying the path of leadership,” said Gerald Simon, Oakland Fire Chief who is an Executive Development Institute instructor. As a youth, many have never seen or became affiliated with a fire truck or the fire service. Mentorship can never be overstated in the Fire Service. It begs to offer the importance of mentors being needed today more than ever before throughout the industry. Community Risk Reduction (CRR) chooses to mentor. CRR specialist Captain D.Y. Smith provides mentorship to the Boys and Girls Club of South America.
Continued on page 7
Sergeant Jeremy March honored as 2021 Whelen Everyday Champion
Sergeant Jeremy March was celebrated as the 2021 Whelen Everyday Champion at the NASCAR Hall of Fame recent event in Charlotte, North Carolina. Watch the video to find out more about his story, and the child outreach program he founded called CopsforKids.
FULLY INVOLVED article continued: Captain Smith provides several classes on CPR and Fire Extinguishment to assist with fire safety. This is when our youth are often first introduced to fire safety education. Here is where our youth can develop an understanding that safety is everyone’s responsibility. Furthermore, the MFRD Fire Safety Expo is a safety exhibition where hundreds of our youth are introduced to the effects of fire. This is an opportunity to build a long-lasting, positive impression and begin to create and mold a safer environment within the community. “Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you someone who had a real positive influence in his or her life. I don’t care what you do for a living. If you do it well, I’m sure there was someone cheering you on or showing you the way. A Mentor…..” —Actor Denzel Washington
C R R C H O O S E S T O M E N T O R . The City of Mobile has a phenomenal Youth Empowered for Success (YES) Initiative. The YES Initiative provides a valuable resource of the training opportunity, mentoring, and enrichment to our youth. Years afterward, some of our youth have come back to the office to share their experience with CRR Specialist Captain Sam Allen. Many have gone off to become engineers, educators, and even work in public safety. They come back to share how valuable mentoring is and the benefit it was to their career path and the lifelong lessons they learned. Safety is ultimately a responsibility that the entire community can participate in. Often a kind word or a friendly gesture can perpetuate a host of positive outcomes. CRR works to create this type of environment as early as possible. The very best way to do this is by mentoring.
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Rarely Seen, Mostly Heard City of Mobile recognizes fire and police dispatchers as first responders
us to be decidedly organized, extremely attentive and exceedingly adaptable, as well as being capable of setting our emotions aside in order to focus on the task at hand. We are faced with split-second decisions that have to be made during the worst of the worst situations. We go into overdrive to assist the officers and citizens alike. Afterward, we are flooded with all kinds of feelings. Sometimes it’s excitement that things worked out perfectly. Other times it’s sadness because things did not end MPD Public Safety Dispatcher II Carol Carroll pleasantly. But above all, we are filled with satisfaction knowing that we did As public safety dispatchers, we were everything in our power to make things better.
posed with the question as to why we are passionate about the job we do.
There are a number of reasons and some differ for each individual. Overall, it’s because we love helping others. And by helping others, we make a difference, whether it’s assisting officers in the field or remaining on the phone with citizens during some of their darkest days. We are giving back, and are striving to be the light in the darkness. For those needing help, time spent on the phone can seem like an eternity, but we do our best to comfort them even during tragic times. It’s often a thankless job, yet we continue to thrive in the fast paced, tremendously stressful and often overwhelming environment that motivates us intrinsically. Every day, both day and night, we log into our systems to get ready for the shift —determined to make the community a little better each time. It’s never long before we find ourselves in emergency situations where something incredibly intense and traumatic that requires O N E S H I F T M AG A Z I N E - 8
Oftentimes, we spend more time with our fellow dispatchers than we do with our own family. We work long 12-hour shifts and often pull overtime on our days off. We work on birthdays, family celebrations, holidays and when the citizens of Mobile are buckling down during extreme weather situations such as hurricanes. We kiss our family goodbye, not knowing what is going to happen, in order to fulfill our obligations to our community. Through doing these things, we build camaraderie. If there are any lingering doubts, we motivate each other to continue doing what we do. We laugh with one another. We cry on each other’s shoulders. We give each other advice, and we support each other. Above all we are family! We are an integral part of the Mobile Police Department. We are the “first” first responders and are overjoyed that we have now been classified as such. We are finally getting the recognition that has been well-deserved and should have been bestowed upon us years ago. Continued on page 9
RARELY SEEN, MOSTLY HEARD article continued:
Snacks On the Go
Submitted by Tonyia Percy, MCPAAA
It’s said that, “between the thin red line and the thin blue line, lies the thinnest line, the gold line, which represents those that are rarely seen but mostly heard...the calm voice in the dark night.” We are the golden glue that holds it all together. And we are here for YOU when you need us most.
The Mobile Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (MCPAAA) was approached in 2019 and asked if we could furnish snacks for the officers to grab and go during the Christmas holidays as they were very busy. We were asked to furnish them to each of the precincts. MCPAAA knew that this would be a great opportunity to thank our officers for their hard work on the streets keeping us safe. We were given numbers for each precinct and purchased sealed snacks and beverages that could be eaten on the go. The snacks were originally set to be distributed during the Christmas holidays, but when the pandemic hit, our officers were having to operate on a more aggressive schedule. We saw a need and were able to put together snacks for the precincts as well as make face masks to assist in the unprecedented times.
MFRD Public Safety Dispatcher Bessie Brown
“911 dispatchers are the first trained point of contact during an emergency. We obtain essential information from callers while remaining calm as well calming others. Each day brings something different so the job can be demanding and stressful at times. But knowing that I’m there in a time of need and able to help those in the community and surrounding areas is my reward.”
The snack project has grown in popularity with the community such that we are receiving donations from the public and one group adopted this as their “Holiday Give Back” project. The MCPAAA continues this fun event as a small way of saying thank you to the officers on the streets. The MCPAAA is very appreciative for the support of our law enforcement organizations in the community allowing us to give back in such a small way. We have fun and enjoy serving the officers who serve us.
—Bessie Brown, MFRD Dispatcher
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First Precinct’s future home in DIP
From left, Public Safety Director Lawrence Battiste, Police Chief Paul Prine, Mayor Sandy Stimpson, City Council President C.J. Small, and First Precinct Captain Lee Laffitte at the precinct’s new location.
What to expect this summer? On top of the list is completion of the new home for the First Precinct, which will be located at 2601 Dauphin Island Parkway, Suite 60. The targeted completion date is June 1. For Captain Lee Laffitte and his officers, the relocation is considered to be more centralized within the precinct. It will help improve response times, and police visibility in the area. Mayor Sandy Stimpson held a groundbreaking ceremony at the new location on Tuesday, December 21. The local news stations were invited to the press conference.
FAITH SHIELDS Submitted by Ruth Grant, MPD Records
I read a beautiful love letter written in Jeremiah 29:11. It reads: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” The New Year is often embraced with a New Year’s resolution. If we are truthful O N E S H I F T M AG A Z I N E - 1 0
with ourselves, many of us have a hard time keeping those resolutions. Why not approach the New Year differently? Why not focus on a higher power—Christ and His plans for your life? Once you align your thoughts with His, the change is inevitable. Happy New Year!
Honors & Congrats!
FIREFIGHTER OF THE MONTH
NOVEMBER 2021
Captain Robert M. Stewart Station 17, Truck 10
OFFICER OF THE MONTH
NOVEMBER 2021
Christopher Culbertson Fourth Precinct
Some Good Eats!
Submitted by John Weichman, MPD Crime Prevention
SHRIMP De JONGE Per Serving •6 each, P/D, 21-25 ct. Tail On or Off •Tbsp. of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (XVOO) •Tbsp. of Clarified, Salt free Butter •Tsp. of Granulated Garlic •1/2 teaspoon Tony’s, Greek Cavender’s or Old Bay Seasoning, or to taste •1/4 cup Dry Sherry (NOT cooking Sherry-too much salt) •Tbsp. of fresh chopped Parsley flowerets, no stems •2 Tbsp. of Unseasoned Panko or Fine White Bread Crumbs, colored by mixing in 2 teaspoons of Paprika, regular or smoked In a 7-inch nonstick sauté pan over medium heat put in the clarified butter and XVOO. Heat until bubbles start to show at edge of pan. Place shrimp in the pan to sauté and season with Tony’s, Old Bay or Cavender’s and Granulated garlic over the shrimp. Turn shrimp over after about 2 minutes when shrimp edges show “white and pink color. Sauté the turned shrimp for a minute, stirring around the shrimp and liquid in the skillet. Add the Dry Sherry to the pan and move the shrimp around and spoon some of liquid over the shrimp. Be careful that Sherry doesn’t flare up - add to the center part of the skillet gently, allowing the alcohol to evaporate quickly, leaving the flavor we want. Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the shrimp and mix for 30 seconds. Turn OFF heat. Sprinkle over the shrimp mixture the colored Dry crumbs and mix to contact all the shrimp. Serve all of the skillet contents. This dish can be a “center” of the plate Entrée by itself or placed on a bed of buttered Orzo or fine egg noodles. Enjoy with a Pinot Grigio or “lite” Pinot Noir and slices of a fresh baguette - to soak up the liquid flavors once the shrimp is gone. If you combine with Orzo or Fine noodles, most of the liquid will be absorbed by either. —Bon Appetit
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Love in Action: Alumni Backs the Blue
Submitted by Rose Swafford, MCPAAA
Created to support and assist the men and women in blue since 2016, the Mobile Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (MCPAAA) members are from the city’s own communities. They have graduated from the Citizens Police Academy. During the 11-week course, there is a lot to learn about the police department, from the various units to the different community programs that aid Mobile. Many, upon graduating from the Citizens Police Academy, join the Alumni Association to begin helping and supporting these brave officers who serve the Port City. Yet despite all our efforts, there are only a handful of officers that know who we are or what we do. The question we always asked ourselves is: “How do we get the officers to know about us?” The answer: “We go directly to them.” An idea that was suggested by Dell Sawyer, one of our members. With the help of our MPD Liaison Lieutenant Sean Black, we are able to hold our meetings at different precincts. By doing so, we can meet more officers and introduce ourselves and what we do. Sometimes we see firsthand how our contributions provide the officers a small comfort of what they need. Of course, we certainly do not show up empty handed. I mean that is considered rude, especially here in the South. So, we bring cake and snacks for the precincts. During our meeting, we discuss everything and anything MPD related –whether its projects, events, or figuring out what items on the wish list we can get. Basically, it’s all about how we can assist the department. We have learned that sometimes the simplest things make a big difference. About two years ago, MCPAAA began the wish list. This is an ongoing list that the precincts add items to, which are outside of what the MPD budget cannot O N E S H I F T M AG A Z I N E - 1 2
provide. Such things we have purchased for precincts in the past have been microwaves, ladders, uniforms for the EOD team, and a lightweight protective vest for K-9 Unit. However, this is not all we do. We also assist by providing the manpower to events such as The Chili Cook-off, S.W.A.T Mud Run, Christmas Party and the threeday event of “Feed the Cops” during Mardi Gras. These are just a few of the events where we are able to assist. During our last Mardi Gras, we learned we had officers that couldn’t leave their post for drinks or a quick snack. In true MCPAAA fashion, our volunteers gathered up drinks and goodies and walked around the city to reach the officers that were smack in the thick of the crowds. We may not have taken over his duties, but we were able to provide a smile and a drink. While some uniform officers have seen us serving refreshments and sweet treats at promotions and graduations, we are so much more than that. We are a dedicated and resource group of volunteers that Back the Blue. We love and support our MPD. This year we hope to do so much more for our beloved department. With so many events returning this year, we look forward to really doing what we love — supporting our Mobile police officers!
