Dear Citizen and Visitor,

This past November I completed my third year as the Chief of the Alexander City Police Department. I am very pleased to say 2010 was a very productive and rewarding year for our Department. For the third year in a row this community saw a decrease in felony crime within our jurisdiction. In addition, the Detective Division's case closure rate remains well above the national average in all categories. We graduated our third Citizens Public Safety Academy Class and the participants continue to tell us how rewarding and informative the classes are. I appreciate the strong commitment of the Fire Department as our partner, in making this program a success.

In 2010 we continued our partnerships with the U.S. Marshal Service and other Law Enforcement Agencies in Tallapoosa County and beyond our County borders, and we are very excited that our Crime Stoppers program has started. This program will enhance our efforts to reduce crime and solve cases countywide. Our Congressional and Department of Justice Assistance Grants enabled us to hire two additional Officers, add a SWAT vehicle to our vehicle inventory, upgrade and improve our training capability, improve technology in our patrol and detective vehicles, and implement Crime Reports which is an internet based crime and Police activity reporting tool accessible to the public. In addition, with the help of the Tallapoosa County 911 Board, we now have the capability in our Dispatch center to see the location of our Patrol and Detective units in real time. This capability will shorten response times and increase Officer safety.

2010 also saw the creation of the Department's Citizens and Business Survey. This survey asks a series of questions designed to help us improve our performance in response to the needs of the citizens who work and live in our community. We partnered with Troy University to help us interpret and score the surveys we received back from the community and the Command Staff and I have been very pleased with the feedback and suggestions we have received. This survey is available on our website and we will continue to utilize it as we plan for the future.

Neighborhood Watch groups and Crime Prevention are critical components to combat crime in our area. In 2010 we witnessed the formation oftwo new Neighborhood Watch groups. We look forward to more groups being formed in 2011 and as a Department we are committed to support these groups and help them grow.

The Command Staff and I have completed our review of the Departments Goals and Objectives for 2010 and I am grateful to all members of the Department for helping achieve completion of over 90% of them for the third year in a row. Copies of both the Departmental Goals and Objectives for 2011, and the Annual Report, can be found on our website and are available for public review, comment and suggestion.

In closing let me state the Command Staff and I look forward to the challenges we will face as a Department in 2011. I look forward to continuing to work with the Mayor and Council. Their leadership and support is much appreciated. I welcome your comments and suggestions. Please do hesitate to contact me or any member of the Command Staff if you have concerns, questions, or comments.

Sincerely,
Charles B. Rafford
Chief of Police