Midfield Police Department: Difference between revisions

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In [[1955]] [[James W. Morris]] took over as chief and kept an office at [[Midfield City Hall]] while operations moved into a renovated building on the opposite corner of [[Woodward Road]] and [[B. Y. Williams Sr Drive|Midfield Street]]. At that time that force consisted of 4 full-time trained officers and a warden supervising the 6-bunk [[Midfield City Jail]]. Morris soon expanded his force into a combined police and firefighting department, using the same trained officers to cover shifts and supplementing them with volunteer firefighters when the need arose. An automated telephone system alerted all officers and volunteers of emergencies. By [[1968]] the department maintained a fleet of two fire trucks, two police patrol cars and a motorcycle. One of the two police cars was replaced each year.
In [[1955]] [[James W. Morris]] took over as chief and kept an office at [[Midfield City Hall]] while operations moved into a renovated building on the opposite corner of [[Woodward Road]] and [[B. Y. Williams Sr Drive|Midfield Street]]. At that time that force consisted of 4 full-time trained officers and a warden supervising the 6-bunk [[Midfield City Jail]]. Morris soon expanded his force into a combined police and firefighting department, using the same trained officers to cover shifts and supplementing them with volunteer firefighters when the need arose. An automated telephone system alerted all officers and volunteers of emergencies. By [[1968]] the department maintained a fleet of two fire trucks, two police patrol cars and a motorcycle. One of the two police cars was replaced each year.


When Midfield was brought under the [[Personnel Board of Jefferson County]] in [[1971]], the city was forced hire police officers separately from firefighters. Morris continued to lead both departments as Midfield's Public Safety Director. When a new City Hall was completed, the older building was converted into a new police and fire station. In [[1979]] the city made the [[Midfield Fire Department]] a separate entity and hired a new full-time fire chief. Morris stayed on as chief of police. The department moved to another new City Hall, in the former [[Alabama State Highway Patrol]] station on [[Bessemer Highway]], in [[1981]].
When Midfield was brought under the [[Personnel Board of Jefferson County]] in [[1971]], the city was forced hire police officers separately from firefighters. Morris continued to lead both departments as Midfield's Public Safety Director. When a new City Hall was completed, the older building was converted into a new police and fire station.


In [[1983]] Midfield decided to re-combine their police and fire departments under one [[Midfield Department of Public Safety]]. Morris resumed leadership of the combined department until his retirement on [[September 30]], [[1989]]. At that time, police and firefighting functions were again divided into separate departments.
On [[March 24]], ]]1980]] the city split off the [[Midfield Fire Department]] as a separate entity, and hired a new full-time fire chief. Morris stayed on as chief of police. The department moved to another new City Hall in the former [[Alabama State Highway Patrol]] station on [[Bessemer Highway]] in [[1981]].


Dudley had served only a year as chief after the retirement of [[Ron White]]. At the time, the city was contemplating dissolving its police force and becoming part of the [[Jefferson County Sheriff's Office]] jurisdiction. Dudley had already applied for a transfer to the [[Hueytown Police Department]] when Midfield mayor [[Gary Richardson]] convinced him to stay on as chief.
On [[October 24]], [[1983]] Midfield's City Council approved an ordinance submitted by Mayor [[Norton Burgess]] to re-combine their police and fire departments under one [[Midfield Department of Public Safety]]. [[William Harris]] was demoted from fire chief to fire lieutenant as Morris resumed leadership of the combined department. He retired on [[September 30]], [[1989]], after which time, police and firefighting functions were again divided into separate departments. Another move to combine them in the 1990s was scuttled due to complexity of meeting the Personnel Board's requirements.


<!--In 1976, Winfred E. Jackson from Fairfield Highlands got elected as Mayor on a platform to build a fire station in the Highlands. With a mandate from the people he was soon having Midfield’s first fire station built from the ground up as a fire station rather than remodeling an old building. The new station was built on a lot at the corner of 9th Avenue and 9th Street.A new fire truck was also purchased and the City was now operating two fire stations.
Lieutenant [[James Hayes]] took over the Police Department until retiring in 1994. The city then hired [[Ron White]] as the new police chief. He retired in [[2009]] and was succeeded by [[Henry Dudley]], who served for less than a year. He applied for a transfer to the [[Hueytown Police Department]] when the city council began discussions about dissolving the police department and becoming part of the [[Jefferson County Sheriff's Office]] jurisdiction. Mayor [[Gary Richardson]] convinced him to stay on as chief through June [[2010]]. [[Frank Belcher]] was promoted from within the department to succeed him. The current chief, [[Jesse Bell]], was promoted after Belcher retired in [[2019]].


In 1979 the Midfield City Council voted to hire the City’s first full time fire chief. The Jefferson County Personnel Board was notified to begin the process of establishing a certified list of candidates. William Harris, a former lieutenant in the Birmingham Fire Department was hired as Midfield’s first fire chief. He reported to work on March 8, 1980 to supervise the nine firefighters in two stations.
As of [[2024]] the Midfield Police Department operates only on weekdays, with Sheriff's deputies responding to calls on weekends. It employs 18 sworn officers and 5 civilians. The patrol division operates on three 8-hour shifts with additional officers during busy hours. The detective division manages investigations, evidence handling, and community relations, with an additional resource officer posted to [[Midfield High School]].


On March 24, 1980 the City Council passed a resolution to repeal the Department of Public Safety position and replace it with separate police and fire departments. Chief Morris would be demoted to Police Chief, but his salary would remain frozen until merit increases caught up with it.
<!--In 1976, Winfred E. Jackson from Fairfield Highlands got elected as Mayor on a platform to build a fire station in the Highlands. With a mandate from the people he was soon having Midfield’s first fire station built from the ground up as a fire station rather than remodeling an old building. The new station was built on a lot at the corner of 9th Avenue and 9th Street. A new fire truck was also purchased and the City was now operating two fire stations.


In 1981, the Highway Patrol station on the Bessemer Highway vacated their building. In keeping with stipulations in the original contract, the property went to the City of Midfield. The Police Department moved into the facility the same year, but it would be another 3 1/2 years before all of the add-ons and renovations would be ready for the new City Hall. Mayor Winfred Jackson passed away on Oct. 19, 1981 and Norton Burgess was elected by the council to fill his un-expired term.
In 1979 the Midfield City Council voted to hire the City’s first full time fire chief. The Jefferson County Personnel Board was notified to begin the process of establishing a certified list of candidates. William Harris, a former lieutenant in the Birmingham Fire Department was hired as Midfield’s first fire chief. He reported to work on March 8, 1980 to supervise the nine firefighters in two stations.
 
With urging from the new fire chief, the council decided that with all departments moving from the old city hall except the fire, now would be the time to consolidate firefighting resources into one fire station that would be centrally located to serve both areas of the city equally, instead of being split into two fire stations to serve two areas. Plans were made, contracts were let and the new firestation on Woodfield Rd. (now MLK Jr. B’lvd) was officially completed on Nov. 23,1983. The other two stations closed and the Highlands Station was remodeled to become a Senior Citizens Center.
 
One month before the completion of the new fire station, on October 24, 1983, Mayor Norton Burgess presented ordinance No. 231 which would consolidate the Police and Fire Departments into a Public Safety Department for the second time. The ordinance was voted on and passed. Also passed that night were resolutions No.722 and 723 that made Paul R. Hak a Fire Lieutenant and demoted William M. Harris from Fire Chief to Fire Lieutenant.
 
Chief J.W. Morris got his old job back as Supt. Public Safety and would be over both departments again with the passage of resolution No. 724. Morris was to assume these duties on the first of November, 1983. Chief Morris would work for almost six more years before retiring on Sept. 30, 1989.
 
With the retirement of Chief Morris an era had come to an end. The Public Safety Director’s position would not be filled again.
 
( During the Martin administration an attempt to re-create the Public Safety Department was made but abandoned after Personnel Board requirements for the position proved too stringent).
 
Police Department
With the retirement of Chief Morris and the subsequent demise of the Public Safety Department on Sept 30 of 1989, the City had totally separate police and fire departments. Lieutenant James Hayes took over the Police Department until retiring in 1994. The City then hired James R. White as the new Police Chief. White would serve as the police chief for fifteen years before retiring in 2009. Henry Dudley was named Chief of Police on Sept. 1, 2009. He remained chief until June 29, 2010.


Frank M. Belcher worked for the Fairfield Police Department for 10 1/2 years prior to transferring to Midfield in June of 2000. Since that time he has moved up in rank, going from patrolman to Sgt./Detective. Next he was promoted to Lieutenant, and occupied that position for a year. Lt. Belcher was named Chief of Police on June 29, 2010 and holds that position as of this writing.-->
With urging from the new fire chief, the council decided that with all departments moving from the old city hall except the fire, now would be the time to consolidate firefighting resources into one fire station that would be centrally located to serve both areas of the city equally, instead of being split into two fire stations to serve two areas. Plans were made, contracts were let and the new fire station on Woodfield Rd. (now MLK Jr. B’lvd) was officially completed on November 23, 1983. The other two stations closed and the Highlands Station was remodeled to become a Senior Citizens Center.-->


{{stub}}
==Chiefs==
==Chiefs==
* [[Curt Kuykendall]], 1954
* [[Curt Kuykendall]], 1954

Revision as of 19:43, 7 April 2024

The Midfield Police Department is the public safety and law enforcement arm of the City of Midfield.

The department was founded as a volunteer force shortly after the city was incorporated in 1953. with a temporary station behind Williams Hardware. Steelworker Curt Kuykendall volunteered as chief initially, with Henry Holmes succeeding him as the first paid chief.

In 1955 James W. Morris took over as chief and kept an office at Midfield City Hall while operations moved into a renovated building on the opposite corner of Woodward Road and Midfield Street. At that time that force consisted of 4 full-time trained officers and a warden supervising the 6-bunk Midfield City Jail. Morris soon expanded his force into a combined police and firefighting department, using the same trained officers to cover shifts and supplementing them with volunteer firefighters when the need arose. An automated telephone system alerted all officers and volunteers of emergencies. By 1968 the department maintained a fleet of two fire trucks, two police patrol cars and a motorcycle. One of the two police cars was replaced each year.

When Midfield was brought under the Personnel Board of Jefferson County in 1971, the city was forced hire police officers separately from firefighters. Morris continued to lead both departments as Midfield's Public Safety Director. When a new City Hall was completed, the older building was converted into a new police and fire station.

On March 24, ]]1980]] the city split off the Midfield Fire Department as a separate entity, and hired a new full-time fire chief. Morris stayed on as chief of police. The department moved to another new City Hall in the former Alabama State Highway Patrol station on Bessemer Highway in 1981.

On October 24, 1983 Midfield's City Council approved an ordinance submitted by Mayor Norton Burgess to re-combine their police and fire departments under one Midfield Department of Public Safety. William Harris was demoted from fire chief to fire lieutenant as Morris resumed leadership of the combined department. He retired on September 30, 1989, after which time, police and firefighting functions were again divided into separate departments. Another move to combine them in the 1990s was scuttled due to complexity of meeting the Personnel Board's requirements.

Lieutenant James Hayes took over the Police Department until retiring in 1994. The city then hired Ron White as the new police chief. He retired in 2009 and was succeeded by Henry Dudley, who served for less than a year. He applied for a transfer to the Hueytown Police Department when the city council began discussions about dissolving the police department and becoming part of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office jurisdiction. Mayor Gary Richardson convinced him to stay on as chief through June 2010. Frank Belcher was promoted from within the department to succeed him. The current chief, Jesse Bell, was promoted after Belcher retired in 2019.

As of 2024 the Midfield Police Department operates only on weekdays, with Sheriff's deputies responding to calls on weekends. It employs 18 sworn officers and 5 civilians. The patrol division operates on three 8-hour shifts with additional officers during busy hours. The detective division manages investigations, evidence handling, and community relations, with an additional resource officer posted to Midfield High School.


Chiefs

References

External links

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