Fair / 71° F
Police chief commends individuals at council meeting
Published 2:21pm Tuesday, July 17, 2012Chief Charles Rafford of the Alexander City Police Department commended four individuals at the city council’s regular meeting Monday.
Rafford first honored citizen Jay Jacobs, who aided in apprehending a suspect in a theft at Walmart in January 2012. The suspect assaulted Walmart’s loss prevention officer when she attempted to detain him.
“Mr. Jacobs witnessed this assault and immediately chased after the suspect. As responding officers arrived on the scene, Mr. Jacobs directed them to the wooded area where the suspect fled,” Rafford said. “Mr. Jacobs assisted officers in the search, and Mr. Jacobs was able to locate the suspect and talk him into surrendering himself to officers.”
Rafford commended Jacobs for his actions.
“Mr. Jacobs’ acts were extraordinary and selfless. Without his help, the suspect would probably not have been taken into custody that evening,” Rafford said. “Mr. Jacobs is to be commended for his actions. Citizens like him make this community a safer place to live, and the Alexander City Police Department is grateful for his assistance.”
Rafford then honored Alexander City Housing Authority Investigator Marcus Osborne, Cpl. Jerry Whetstone of the ACPD and Ken Cowart of the Alexander City Rescue Squad for their work in the Fox Creek double drowning May 23.
Rafford said Osborne was the first officer available to respond, with Whetstone and Cowart following with scuba gear.
“Upon arriving on the scene, Cpl. Whetstone immediately started diving in order to locate the bodies of the two victims,” Rafford said. “Mr. Cowart was also paged out and immediately responded to the scene to assist Cpl. Whetstone.”
Whetstone was able to locate one victim, and with the help of a helicopter unit, Whetstone and Cowart were able to locate the second victim.
Rafford said the recovery operation lasted approximately four hours.
“Unfortunately both of the victims perished, but the actions of these men … show their courage, commitment to duty and their fellow man and a willingness to go above and beyond (with the intent) to save lives,” Rafford said.
During the council meeting, members voted for the following:
- awarded Gary Ingram Grading and Paving a bid for base and additive alternate No. 1 in the amount of $694,665.25, with the city responsible for $34,000 of that price as part of the initial grant for the T.C. Russell Airport taxiway development project
- awarded a contract for the purchase for automatic flushers for the Alexander City Water Department to Consolidated Pipe in an amount not to exceed $55,211.34
- awarded a bid for a new trailer mounted pothole patcher to Equipment and Parts of Montgomery for an amount not to exceed $58,777
- awarded a bid for lawn care services at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex and the Russell Pool area to Archer Septic and Construction for a price of $2,800 per month for 36 months
- amended the 2011/2012 operating budget in an amount not to exceed $2,000 for a temporary employee in Mayor Barbara Young’s office while the current administrative assistant is on medical leave for four weeks
- authorized the Mayor to execute a change order in the construction of the airport’s terminal building and parking lot, increasing the price by $3,154, with the city’s share of the increase being $1,577
- approved an application for off-premises retail beer and wine licenses from Ashley Bushong for Bay Pines Marina in Jacksons Gap
- waived the $2 yard sale business license for citizens of Alexander City in order to encourage participation in the World’s Longest Yard Sale, set to take place Aug. 2-5 at the Sportplex
