DOTHAN: Before I get into “what”, I must first acknowledge “who”.
Today in a regular Dothan City Commission Meeting, the “current” Mayor and Dothan Associate Commissioners, along with Dothan City Manager Randy Morris moved Dothan Police Department years and years ahead.
So first, THANK YOU to Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Associate Commissioners D1 Kevin Dorsey, D-2 Aristotle Kirkland, D-3 Bradley Bedwell, D-4 John Ferguson, D-5 Gantt Pierce, D-6 David Crutchfield, Dothan City Manager Randy Morris and ground laid out.
Today Dothan Mayor and Associate Commissioners committed to a huge 27 million dollar investiment over the next 10 years in technology, in crime fighting. This technology will include car cameras, body camera, drones, anti drones, equipment designed to de-escalate situations without the use of deadly physical force.
This investment in the safety of the citizens and guests of Dothan Alabama, will help protect each and every citizen with intelligence data and information to be provided to the men and women of the Dothan Police Department.
This has been in the works for well over a year by Dothan Police Chief Will Benny, Major Will Glover, Captain Thomas Davis, Captain Jason Penn, Captain Lynn Watkins, and Captain Rachel David. The command team, combined with men and women throughout the department, along with the Mayor and Associate Commissioners, have taken trips and visited other real time crime centers.
These centers use the latest technology, Ai Tools, other technological tools and advancements, to help law enforcement commanders make intelligent decisions when combatting crime.
This endeavor and money paid enables Dothan’s equipment to be upgraded as advancements are made. And this allows crime to be solved or prevented before it happens. And it helps make sure the men and women in service of protection of the citizens and guests get to go home each and every night.
You know United State President Donald Trump was ambushed by a coward on a rooftop at a distance. This past week Charlie Kirk was ambushed by a coward on a rooftop at a distance. Today, September 16, 2025 an Edgewater Florida off duty police officer, David Jewell, was purchasing a hot dog as a gas station. An employee left the building, reentered with a gun and repeatedly shot the police officer from behind. A cold blooded assination by a coward. There were 10 – 15 rounds fired into the police officer.
While this real time crime center will not prevent all crime, what it will do is give the law enforcement professionals the tools to combat crime, at times know about crime before it happens and prevent death and destructions, thefts and robberies. And to solve these crimes quickly.
There is a lot that I do not know about the real time crime center. But what I do know, under the forward thinking of Dothan Police Chief Will Benny, his command staff of Major Will Glover, Captain Thomas Davis, Captain Jason Penn, Captain Lynn Watkins, Captain Rachel David, and the full 100% support of Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, D-1 Kevin Dorsey, D-2 Aristotle Kirkland, D-3 Bradley Bedwell, D-4 John Ferguson, D-5 Gantt Pierce, D-6 David Crutchfield, City Manager Randy Morris … a HUGE PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENT AND MOVE was made today.
THANK YOU all.
