GENEVA COUNTY – SLOCOMB: 7:44 PM Geneva County Central 911 dispatched Slocomb Fire – Rescue to a structure fire at 1490 White Oak Road at Slocomb.
At the time of dispatch it was a working structure fire, unknown if everyone had evacuated, and caller had disconnected.
Slocomb Fire Chief Kyle Hovey advised water would be a issue, that no fire hydrants were near. Chief Hovey requested mutual aid assistance from Malvern Volunteer Fire Department and Fadette Volunteer Fire Department.
7:49 PM Geneva County 911 paged all Slocomb Fire – Rescue members that any off duty members which were close and able to respond additional manpower was needed. There were no fire hydrants and water was going to have to be shuttled.
8:23 PM Slocomb Fire Chief Kyle Hovey reported fire under control and checking for extensions.
Slocomb Fire – Rescue has been hammered since March 2025 arrived. A structure fire on Saturday, multiple medical calls, patient transfers, outdoor fires. The east end of Geneva County is well cared for with Slocomb Fire – EMS, Malvern Volunteer Fire and Fadette Volunteer Fire. The men and women involved do a great job in serving the citizens and guests in Geneva County.
DOTHAN: In June 2024 Dothan Police Chief Will Benny assembled his command staff. The Command Staff consists of Dothan Police Major Will Glover, Captain Rachel David – Training Center; Captain Jason Penn – Investigative Bureaus; Captain Thomas Davis – Patrol Uniform Division; Captain Lynn Watkins – Administrative Division.
Chief Will Benny instructed the command staff to begin preparations for Mardi Gras 2025, which took place this past weekend. The command staff, people under their command, Lieutenants, Sergeants and Corporals began developing plans.
Within those plans, training and scenarios were developed. In the 28,130 square foot Education and Training Building of the Wiregrass Public Safety Center, which includes an array of scenario-specific resources designed to simulate, with crucial accuracy, the emergency situations first responders are likely to face, training was conducted.
As the command staff developed those specific plans, Chief Will Benny was briefed and interjected his thoughts. Finally the plan was developed.
On Saturday morning some 100 law enforcement officers, combined agencies of Houston County Sheriff Department, ALEA – Troopers, Governmental Specialists from the U.S Government assembled earlier for a detailed briefing.
While law enforcement developed their plans, Dothan Fire Chief Larry Williams and his command staff, Deputy Fire Chief’s Chris Etheridge, Deputy Fire Chief David Hasty, Deputy Fire Chief Pete Webb, and the different Battalion Chief and Captains along with Pilcher Ambulance. Southeast Health and Flowers Hospital developed emergency medical procedures. With each plan how to manage the huge volume of people and regular fire and EMS calls. Also how to navigate the downtown area to respond to routine emergencies.
Then the Dothan 911 Center in how to manage the routine dispatch and response of emergency calls because of different areas being barricaded.
CHECK, RECHECK, DOUBLE CHECK … all plans developed, rehearsed and all systems ready for implementation.
Saturday morning, early, over 100 assembled for the final briefing. Dothan dump trucks were positioned to assist in blocking intersections along with Dothan Police units. What Chief Benny and Command Staff was not going to allow was a New Orleans situation of a vehicle crashing into the crowds of people. There were true “undercover officers” in different places with beads and a hidden radio ear piece in their ears, stationed strategically in places to observe. Officers were not allowed to talk with these “undercover officers.” There was a display of officers in uniforms and tactical gear. Sometimes visual presence is a deterrent.
The overall commanders, Dothan Police Major Will Glover and Captain Thomas Davis. With confidence in his command staff, Dothan Police Chief Will Benny backed off in the background and let the command staff manage the operation.
At the close of the Mardi Gras parade, which was attended by hundreds of hundreds of people, the only two problems to my knowledge, were two fights that broke out. And the law enforcement officers were on top of it, quickly. Those were about the only ones arrested.
The crowd felt safe and behaved really well. A smooth safe event.
But a well planned out event. Wiregrass Public Safety Director Jason Wright commented on Facebook, that watching the training at Wiregrass Public Safety Center and then seeing the plan implemented, all involved did an excellent job. While Wright is not over the actual training implementation, but seeing and being involved at the center he was proud of all agencies and officers involved.
Following the day Dothan Police Chief Will Benny, Dothan Police Major Will Glover, Dothan Police Captain Thomas Davis expressed their gratitude to all law enforcement and emergency responders with fire and EMS. A job well done, a event concluded with no major issues and everyone worked together as designed.
DALE: 6:21 PM SATURDAY EVENING: Ozark – Dale County 911 and Enterprise 911 dispatched Level Plains Police, Level Plains Volunteer Fire Department, Dale County Sheriff Department to a motor vehicle accident with injuries.
The location of the accident was 1910 Joe Bruer Road – Daleville Sports Bar and Lounge. The reports to Ozark – Dale County 911, motor vehicle accident with injuries, involving a motorcycle. The caller reported unknown injuries but looked pretty bad.
Enterprise Rescue Medical Helicopter was unable to accept the mission to fly. Survival Flight from Headland accepted the mission and responded to the scene. The injuries were reported critical.
Level Plains Police Department was in charge of the accident investigation.
COFFEE COUNTY: 8:10 PM Coffee County 911 Center dispatched a motor vehicle accident with injuries. The accident was reported to involve a female and a male.
The location of the accident was 10232 County Road 306. The location was near County Road 307 and County Road 312. Reports to Coffee County 911 the accident involved a four wheeler.
Coffee County Sheriff Deputies, Elba Fire Department, Enterprise Rescue responded. Hayne Medical Helicopter accepted the mission and responded.
The initial reports to Coffee County 911 that all patients were conscious and the second patient, reported to be a 2 year old, was ejected from the four wheeler.
UNCONFIRMED some on the scene transported one or more injured to Troy Regional by private auto to the hospital. The first fire engine is reported to have arrived in 16 minutes from the call hitting 911. The location was in the northern end of Coffee County so there was a distance for the emergency units to respond.
This is reported to have occurred on private property. Unknown the condition of the patients.
SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 2025
08:20 AM Ozark – Dale County 911 auto launched Survival Flight on a medical emergency, stroke. When EMS arrived Survival Flight was cancelled.
NEWTON – DALE COUNTY: 5:00 PM Ozark – Dale County 911 dispatched a motor vehicle accident – roll over – of a ATV. The accident is reported to have occured at 7659 S. County Road 20 in Newton at Woodham’s Bridge.
Shortly after initial dispatch the information was upgraded the accident involved an 11 year old child. Ozark – Dale County 911 auto launched Survival Flight but they were unable to accept the mission. Ozark – Dale County 911 was attempting to auto launch Enterprise Rescue medical helicopter when the caller informed they were transporting to 11 year old child by private auto to Flowers Hospital.
Midland City Police spotted the private auto on South County Road 59 at New Hope Road. Unsure as of this writing if the officer awaited EMS to respond or escorted the vehicle onto Flowers Hospital. At one time heard instructions to escort the vehicle to the hospital. So depending on the time it would take EMS to arrive at their location or go onto the hospital, whichever was best for the patient, the law enforcement did.
ALEA – Troopers were possibly dispatched if the accident occured on the roadway. If one private property then ALEA does not investigate private property accidents.
At the time of this writing the condition of the child is unknown.
ABBEVILLE – HENRY COUNTY: 5:14 PM A few minutes ago Abbeville Police Department activated their blue lights on a vehicle attempting to make a traffic stop. The vehicle in front of the blue lights made a conscious decision not to stop and for some apparent reason his mind told him press the gas pedal.
The chase proceeded on County Road 99 at Abbeville. In front of Money’s Ford the vehicle spun out, however, the driver was able to regain control of the vehicle. The chase continued with Henry County Sheriff Deputies responding to assist Abbeville Police. The pursuit continued to the suspect crossing Highway 431 onto County Road 27. As the suspect reached County Road 40 the suspect vehicle spun out of control for the second time.
This time the suspect’s mind told his feet, RUN!!! The suspect ran on foot across a pasture.
Henry County Sheriff Deputy riding with his field training officer, who is young and in great physical shape, launched the foot pursuit. As the Henry County Sheriff Deputy was in pursuit on foot and the suspect went to go over a fence the Henry County Sheriff Deputy was within range with his taser. The Deputy launched the taser shooting the probes into the suspect giving him an electrical ride like he has not had.
That immobilized the suspect and he was taken into custody with any injuries to anyone, other than the electrical shock the suspect was able to enjoy.
The suspect had used some type of deodorant that smelt just like marijuana!!! Cause he smelled of marijuana and you know he did not smoke – so had to be some type of deodorant.
He was checked by Abbeville Rescue and then transported to the Henry County Jail.
DOHAN: As the clock strikes midnight tonight (March 1, 2025) it will begin the 4th year of Will Benny serving as Dothan Police Chief.
On the retirement of Steve Parrish on March 1, 2021, the Honorable Alabama Supreme Court Justice Brad Mendheim administered the Oath of Office to Will Benny as Dothan’s Top Cop.
Today, with 30 years of service with the Dothan Police Department, beginning as a Corrections Officer, rising through the ranks, Will Benny leads a police force of about 208 sworn police officers, plus a large support staff, corrections staff, 911 Center Communications Staff, Animal Control Staff, the City of Dothan – Houston County Communications District Board and Radio Shop staff. And I am probably missing some.
The training center ground was broken under Steve Parrish’s tenure as Dothan Police Chief. With the Wiregrass Training Center being reality today, Chief Will Benny has worked to enhance and be proactive in the training of law enforcement officers. With Dothan having been told NO before on a Regional Police Academy at the Wiregrass Training Center by the State of Alabama APOST, Chief Benny would not accept that answer. So he went to work and developed a proactive plan. Today, the City of Dothan Wiregrass Training Center has its own Regional Police Academy. To date, this Dothan Police Academy has graduated a significant number of law enforcement officers for the City of Dothan and surrounding agencies.
Chief Will Benny fought to increase the Dothan Police force. In the three years Chief Benny has led the department, some 181 law enforcement officers rose to 208. Each year the force is to increase, and to my memory, within the next years another 5 additional officers are expected to join the team. Chief Benny has fought to get the starting pay and the pay for those already employed up so the City of Dothan is very competitive in recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers and staff. During his tenure he has not only cared and fought for the officers on the street, but those in all divisions and support areas.
Chief Benny will be quick to tell you this could only be accomplished with a supportive City Manager, Mayor and Associate Commissioners. They have all been very supportive when he presents a detailed plan and the benefits of that plan.
Chief Will Benny is very technologically-minded in growing the department’s technology. A lot of technological advances have been made within the department to assist the officers in combatting crime. Most of those RSN will not disclose, but we have witnessed some of those advances. Chief Benny is always looking at what can he do to better assist the officers of the department in their service and protection of the citizens and guests of Dothan. And Chief Benny is always mindful of his decisions and how those decisions affect the lowest in rank to the top of the rank of the department. He has cut a lot of bureaucratic red tape that someone in government came up with that was burdensome and not really serving a useful purpose. Chief Benny even got Dothan a “ghetto bird” as some call it – but a partnership with Wiregrass Aviation Support Program helicopter that asists Dothan Police Department in the performance of their job.
You do not see Chief Will Benny out front beating his chest about “look what I am doing.” He very quietly goes about the management of the department. His command staff, Major and Captains, are always working on different projects. Those projects are designed to serve the citizens and increase the safety of the citizens and the men and women who serve and place their lives on the line. Chief Will Benny takes very personally when someone assaults one of his officers and always wants each one of them to go home safe each day. Chief Benny personally handwrites birthday cards, addresses them and sends them to the officers. When he knows of something special their children do, he sends a personal letter to their family members in recognition of the special achievement.
Chief Benny does not want recognition. He just wants to put bad guys in jail and keep his team safe. He is very proud of the men and women of the department and their dedicated work in fighting crime. This weekend was an example of the department’s skill: the solving of a missing person, determining it was a murder, developing the suspect quickly, and the arrest of the suspect, the husband, as being responsible for the murder.
It is not unusual to see Chief Benny come into Patrol Division briefings. And he walks in, sits down next to the officers, listening to the briefing and interacting with the officers.
A lot of other things to include Dothan getting, once again, a Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences Lab in Dothan. Having had one years ago, Chief Benny and Sheriff Valenza recognized the long waits to lab analysis and the need for the drug lab. Ironically Dothan got one under “daddy” Mayor Alfred Saliba and now under “son” Mayor Mark Saliba Dothan is once again getting a Forensic Lab.
Congratulations as you begin your fourth year as Chief of Police for the City of Dothan. Thank you for your love of Dothan and passion for good law enforcement and the protection of the men and women of Dothan Alabama to work, live and play.
