By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Law enforcement officials encourage residents with emergencies to always call 911 instead of a police department.

That point has been made more imperative by the incorrect number for the Jemison Police Department listed in the current Chilton County edition of Yellowbook.

The telephone number for Jemison Middle School is listed for the city’s police department.

The police can be reached at 688-4492, but again, anyone with an emergency should call 911.

“We probably get as many requests for assistance or inquiries within the police department through the front office as we do through our [911] dispatch,” JPD Chief Shane Fulmer said. “But dispatch is more efficient and there’s an accountability there. Call them; that’s what they’re there for.”

JMS principal Mark Knight said an extra 20 or so calls a day have stressed school secretaries that were already stretched thin.

“They’re calling saying, ‘I thought I was calling the police department,’” Knight said. “I called (Yellowbook) and let them know I wasn’t real happy about it. But we just give them the right number. I guess that’s all we can do.”

The publication with the incorrect information was printed in March.

Also, the police department’s address is incorrect, being listed as the location of the old Jemison Middle School.

The correct address is 14 Padgett Lane, Jemison, 35085.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Jemison Police Department’s planned Citizens Academy has been rescheduled to begin April 12.

The academy was scheduled to begin March 8, but the death of Officer Josh Newman on March 5 and the events that followed forced the postponement of the Academy.

Still, Jemison Police officials said they expect much participation when the academy does get underway.

“We had several signed up before,” Deputy Chief Marc McMinn said. “We’re expecting a lot again. It’s going to be a good thing.”

The dates are the only things that will change about the academy, which will include 10 weeks of training over a one-year period.

Classes will start at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Jemison Municipal Complex courtroom.

Topics covered will include: patrol operations and policy, understanding citations, accident investigation, vehicle inspection, use of force, firearm safety, narcotic investigation, evidence collection and traffic stops.

Special demonstrations will include: a facility tour, mock crime scenes, Chilton County Jail tour, K-9 demonstration, a Taser demonstration, a visit to a firing range, and possibly the opportunity to ride along with officers on patrol.

Instructors will include Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer, Deputy McMinn and other Jemison officers, plus an Alabama state trooper, local judges, the jail warden and others.

Fulmer stressed to The Clanton Advertiser in an initial interview that every instructor is affiliated with Chilton County law enforcement in some way.

The idea isn’t to teach participants how to do everything—that would take a more extensive course—but rather what is going on during police activity and why officers do the things they do.

“We’re excited about it, being able to do this with the general public,” Fulmer said in February.

Participants will also have the opportunity to share thoughts they have about JPD.

“We want feedback from the public,” Fulmer said.

Class size will be limited to 20 people, and slots will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those interested should pick up an application at the Municipal Complex during business hours.

Applicants should be at least 18 years old and without a criminal background.

At least eight classes will have to be attended for a participant to graduate from the academy.

At the end of the course, graduates will be declared academy alumni, and Fulmer said there is even the possibility an alumni group could be formed that would assist Jemison officers with their work, such as providing a presence at sporting events.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Support continues to pour in for the family of Jemison Police Officer Josh Newman, who died in a car wreck over the weekend while on duty.

Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer said local residents have brought gifts by city hall, emails offering condolences have been received from as far away as Canada, and Jemison Elementary School students wrote hundreds of letters to Newman’s family.

“I’ve got people coming by the office and leaving stuff, leaving gifts, leaving cards, and I’m getting everything together every evening and taking it to the family,” Fulmer said.

In order to give some direction to those wanting to help, the city of Jemison set up the “Officer Josh Newman Memorial Fund” at BB&T bank branches.

Fulmer also encouraged people to visit the Officer Down Memorial Page at odmp.org and write on Newman’s memorial book.

Contact the Jemison Municipal Complex at 688-4492 or BB&T at 688-4186.

Newman’s funeral will be Thursday, March 10 at 2 p.m. at Jemison Municipal Complex at 14 Padgett Lane. Burial will follow at New Hope Community Cemetery on County Road 42 East in Jemison. Food and refreshments will follow the services back at the municipal complex.

Visitation will be Wednesday, March 9, starting at 5 p.m. at the Jemison Municipal Complex. Ellison-Mims Funeral Home of Clanton will direct the services.

Fulmer said many people and churches have contacted the department about bringing by food. He said the best time to do that would be for the gathering following Newman’s funeral and burial Thursday. Contact Councilwoman Faye King to help with food at 688-2059 or 287-1786.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

A Jemison man has been charged with assault after striking pedestrians with his vehicle for the second time in three months.

Thomas Brackin Jr., 74, was charged with second degree assault, a Class B felony, and arrested about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday after an investigation by the Jemison Police Department.

“Throughout the investigation, evidence that was obtained contradicted the original statements given on the scene of the accident,” JPD Chief Shane Fulmer said.

At about 6:05 a.m. on Jan. 27, a 60-year-old Union Grove man was struck by a pick-up truck on County Road 42 near Interstate 65 Exit 219.

The man suffered internal injuries that required surgery but were not life-threatening.

The driver told police he was traveling west and turned slightly off the road to keep from hitting a tractor-trailer coming from the opposite direction. When he did, he instead hit the man, just off the bridge that crosses over 65.

But video from a gas station near the site of the incident contradicted Brackin’s claim, as did eyewitnesses who came forward after the incident.

Fulmer said no motive is apparent, and no medical condition has been discovered that would impair Brackin’s driving ability.

Brackin is out of jail on bond.

Brackin also struck a fifth grader on the same road, near its intersection with Highway 31, on Nov. 10, 2010.

The earlier incident was ruled an accident, and Fulmer said he remains confident with that ruling.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer wants city residents to feel more like part of the force.

What better way than to put them through the Academy?

While different than the training police officers receive, graduates of Jemison’s first Citizens Academy will still gain great knowledge of the jobs officers perform.

“There’s a lot that the general public doesn’t know,” Fulmer said, and the academy is an effort to offer some insight.

The program will include 10 weeks of training over a one-year period.

Classes will be start at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Jemison Municipal Complex courtroom.

Topics covered will include: patrol operations and policy, understanding citations, accident investigation, vehicle inspection, use of force, firearm safety, narcotic investigation, evidence collection and traffic stops.

Special demonstrations will include: a facility tour, mock crime scenes, Chilton County Jail tour, K-9 demonstration, a Taser demonstration, a visit to a firing range, and possibly the opportunity to ride along with officers on patrol.

Instructors will include Fulmer, Deputy Chief Marc McMinn and other Jemison officers, plus an Alabama state trooper, local judges, the jail warden and others.

Fulmer stressed that every instructor is affiliated with Chilton County law enforcement in some way.

The idea isn’t to teach participants how to do everything—that would take a more extensive course—but rather what is going on during police activity and why officers do the things they do.

“We’re excited about it, being able this with the general public,” Fulmer said.

Participants will also have the opportunity to share thoughts they have about JPD.

“We want feedback from the public,” Fulmer said.

The course is scheduled to begin on March 8.

Class size will be limited to 20 people, and slots will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those interested should pick up an application at the Municipal Complex during business hours.

The deadline for applications to be returned is Feb. 25.

Applicants should be at least 18 years old and without a criminal background.

At least eight classes will have to be attended for a participant to graduate from the academy.

At the end of the course, graduates will be declared academy alumni, and Fulmer said there is even the possibility an alumni group could be formed that would assist Jemison officers with their work, such as providing a presence at sporting events.

Such a group would further strengthen the connection between residents and their police force.

“It’s a good time to bond with the people,” Fulmer said. “You have to have community involvement and community trust in managing a city police department.”

By Stephen Dawkins

The Jemison City Council on Tuesday discussed potential sources of revenue for the city.

Mayor Eddie Reed told the council to consider a proposed contract for rental of the old city hall, which sits adjacent to the Jemison Municipal Complex.

Reed said the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles would occupy half of old city hall for two years at a rate of $575 a month, if the council approves the measure at its next meeting.

“The good news is we’re meeting with the gentleman that’s going to rent the other half (on Wednesday),” Reed said. “That’s another income for the city, and we’re grateful for that.”

The council met Tuesday instead of Monday, its usual meeting day, because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Partly because of the success of renting the city’s auditorium, Councilwoman Faye King suggested the city clean out and rent the rescue building.

“It’s sitting there; we might as well make money off everything we can,” King said.

King also recommended the city purchase tablecloths for use in the auditorium. Renters could also rent the tablecloths; the council agreed it would be necessary to charge to compensate for having to clean the tablecloths.

In her final money-producing idea, King asked the council to vote to have a certified letter sent to two former firefighters, asking they repay money the city spent for them to attend a training course.

The council agreed the men had not met requirements put in place before the city agreed to spend the money.

The city paid $750 for each of the two men for them to attend the training.

In other business, the council:

•Allowed Fire and Rescue Department Chief John Dennis to spend up to $10,000 on renovations to the city’s fire station.
Dennis said he wants to turn some existing space into a dormitory and also upgrade the station’s bathroom facilities.

“Our plan is to eventually have people there 24 hours a day, and this is helping us move toward that,” Dennis said.

•Approved Nick Barnett to serve as a reserve police officer, based on the recommendation of Deputy Chief Marc McMinn.

By Stephen Dawkins

A convenience store in Jemison was robbed Monday evening.

The suspect made off with an undetermined amount of money after striking the clerk at B-Mart with a handgun, Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer said.

The store is located south of Jemison off Highway 31,

The clerk, who was the only person in the store at the time of the crime, suffered minor injuries.

No arrests have been made, Fulmer said, though police are following several leads.

Officers are looking for a black male in his mid-20s who was wearing a black toboggan hat and a black jacket. He was described as about 6 feet tall and weighing about 165 pounds.

Anyone with information about the crime or the suspect should call Sgt. Jeff Manasco or Deputy Chief Marc McMinn with JPD at 688-4492 ext. 7.

“We’ll work diligently and do everything we can to find the person responsible,” Fulmer said.

The suspect fled the store on foot heading south along 31.

He entered the store about 6 p.m. and demanded money. The clerk opened the register, and then the suspect grabbed the drawer and made off with what he could.

“The whole ordeal probably didn’t last a minute, a minute and a half,” Fulmer said.

Fulmer said occurrences of these types of crimes almost always increase around the holidays.

“Business owners that stay open late into the night, I’d like to express to them, be cautious and report suspicious activity to us as soon as possible,” Fulmer said.

The following is an activity report of the Jemison Police Department from Wednesday, Nov. 24 through Tuesday, Nov. 30.

Wednesday, Nov. 24
•Property damage,   24,000th block of U.S. 31
•Domestic violence,  11,000th block of County Road 51
•Theft of property and criminal mischief,  300th block of Alabama 155

Thursday, Nov. 25
•Criminal mischief,  23,000rd block of U.S. 31
•Burglary, theft of property and criminal mischief, 10,000th block of County Road 51
•Child custody dispute,  100th block of County Road 768

Friday, Nov. 26
•Domestic violence,  Lake Drive.  One arrested

Saturday, Nov. 27
•Two-vehicle accident,  County Road 51 and 44.  No injuries
•Two-vehicle private property accident, Cobb Plaza parking lot. No injuries

Sunday, Nov. 28
•Served two arrest warrants for failure to appear in court

Monday, Nov. 29
•No documented activity

Tuesday, Nov. 30
•Theft of property, shoplifting, 24,000th block of U.S. 31. One arrested.

By Stephen Dawkins

Jemison’s city council on Monday approved a bid to enter into a contract for garbage pick-up with Longwood, Fla.-based Waste Pro.

The contract is dependent upon approval from Jemison’s attorney, but Waste Pro’s bid, the lowest of four entered for the service, was approved unanimously by the council members present, which did not include Sam Reed, who was absent because of medical reasons, Mayor Eddie Reed said.

Waste Pro’s service would begin at the beginning of the 2011 calendar year, and the council requested that residential trash be picked up on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, which Waste Pro representative Todd White said could be accommodated.

White said his company could remove Jemison’s trash in less than two full days, though there would likely be an initial transition period, with pick-up possibly taking all week, while routes are determined and all customers located.

Waste Pro entered a bid of $12 per standard residential customer pick-up. More would be charged for businesses and for customers who require more than one 95-gallon bin or who desire “backdoor pick-up.”

Jemison residents will see no change in their garbage bill.

The council agreed to a three-year contract.

Mayor Reed said the three city employees responsible for collecting garbage would remain employed and assigned to other duties.

In other business, the council:

•Approved a one-year, $1,075 contract with Active Air to service the Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning system in the city’s Municipal Complex.

Reed said the contract covers all work and parts associated with the system.
•Canceled the council meeting scheduled for Dec. 20. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Jan. 3.

•Added Byron Lindsey Oliver to the police reserve, with the recommendation of Police Chief Shane Fulmer and dependent on Oliver completing the necessary training requirements.

•Recognized councilwoman Faye King for her work in organizing the city’s Christmas parade, which was held on Dec. 4.

By Stephen Dawkins

A vehicle can be like a weapon: In the hands of someone irresponsible, it can maim or kill.

With the completion of traffic homicide investigation training, the city of Jemison has the means to determine whether a wreck that results in death or serious injury is a prosecutable case.

Sgt. Brandon Wright, who has been with the Jemison Police Department for about 10 years, became a certified traffic homicide investigator with the completion of an 80-hour, two-week course taught at the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center, also known as the State Trooper Academy, in Selma on Sept. 27-Oct. 8.

“We all receive training in accident investigation, but this is much more in depth,” Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer said.

Course participants learn how to perform speed analysis, collect evidence, take photographs and construct diagram of the scene.

“It’s kind of like working a crime scene,” Fulmer said.

The training is intended for investigating a wreck that results in death or serious injury and that might have been the result of driving under the influence of alcohol or another form of reckless driving.

In the case of such an accident, Jemison wouldn’t have to rely on state officers to conduct an investigation.

Fulmer said one or two such situations typically occur each year.

“We have a responsibility to provide services, and I want to ensure personally that if someone is tragically hurt or killed in an accident…I want a person that caused that by being reckless to be held responsible. I feel like we owe it to the families of the victims.”

Fulmer said he plans to have another Jemison officer receive the training next year.