After more than 30 years of dedicated service to the City of Dothan, Captain Crow is officially retiring, leaving behind a lasting impact on public safety and those who served alongside him.
Throughout his career, Capt. Crow was known as a steady and dependable presence — whether responding to fire scenes, handling complex investigations, or carrying out the daily responsibilities of station life. Fellow firefighters describe him as a leader who served with grit, wisdom, and quiet confidence.
In his role as Assistant Fire Marshal, Capt. Crow carried out responsibilities that often went unseen by the public but were vital to the safety of the community. Through fire investigations, inspections, and a relentless commitment to excellence, his work helped shape and strengthen safety standards across the city.
Those who worked alongside him say his dedication altered community safety in ways that cannot be fully measured, but will be felt for years to come.
Capt. Crow’s retirement marks the end of an era for the Dothan Fire Department, but his legacy of service and commitment to protecting the community will endure.
Warming shelters will open tonight as cold temperatures move into the Wiregrass.
Beginning Sunday, December 14 at 7 p.m., First Baptist Church on West Main Street will open its Family Life Center as an overnight warming station. The shelter will remain open until 7 a.m. Monday. The same hours will be offered again Monday night into Tuesday morning.
The shelter will be operated by the Southeast Alabama Coalition for the Homeless.
In addition, Cottonwood Community Church will provide overnight shelter during the same hours, offering meals and cots to those in need.
For safety, doors at both locations will lock at 9 p.m. each night.
Residents who are concerned about someone needing shelter can contact the Dothan–Houston County Emergency Management Agency at 334-794-9720. For general community assistance and resources, residents may also dial 2-1-1.
COLUMBIA – HOUSTON COUNTY: 06:42 AM Houston County 911 dispatched Columbia Volunteer Fire, Houston County Sheriff Deputies and ALEA – Troopers to a motor vehicle accident, 13019 E. State Hwy. 52 to a motor vehicle accident with no injuries. A vehicle verses a deer.
DOTHAN: 06:47 AM Dothan 911 dispatched Dothan Fire Engine Company 6 9 Napier Field Road ) and Dothan Fire Truck 3 ( Whatley Drive ), Pilcher Ambulance and Dothan Police to a motor vehicle accident with injuries, Flynn Road and Cathy Lou Road. Reports to Dothan 911 a vehicle overturned. On arrival of Dothan Fire Engine Company 6 they advised a single vehicle accident, vehicle overturned, patient self extricated. Engine 6 canceled Truck 3. Dothan Fire Trucks have extricating equipment on them and why they are automatically dispatched when there could be entrapment. It is best to have resources needed based on information taken by the 911 Center, and cancel that equipment if not needed, then need the equipment and take longer in rolling it. Seconds count when life matters!!!
ELBA – COFFEE COUNTY: UPDATED At 8:28 AM this Saturday morning Coffee County Central 911 Center dispatched Elba Police, Coffee County Sheriff Department, and Enterprise Rescue to a firearm assault at Dorsey Trailers in Elba. Each department responded along with Coffee County Sheriff Scott Byrd.
The emergency units found a male subject with a firearm assault wound to the back. Enterprise Rescue dispatched one of the three Enterprise Rescue helicopters to the scene. The patient, a manager of Dorsey Trailers, was flown to a trauma center. The manager’s firearm assault injuries are not reported to be life threatening, but the firearm assault was severe.
Elba Police, Coffee County Sheriff Scott Byrd and Coffee County Sheriff Deputies launched an investigation. The suspect was identified quickly. The officers, Sheriff Byrd and Enterprise Police quickly hit a location near Enterprise in an effort to apprehend the suspect but he was not at the location.
All of the agencies and officers worked together, all day. ALEA – State Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshall’s, and Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza and members of the Houston County Sheriff Special Response Team ( SWAT ), combined with Elba Police, Enterprise Police and Coffee County Sheriff Scott Byrd and deputies from Coffee County Sheriff Department, based on the investigation since 8:28 AM located the whereabouts of the suspect. And tonight, before 9:00 PM, the combined agencies swarmed the location and took the suspect into custody.
The suspect is identified as hispanic male Julio Torres described as 5’09, 266 pounds. After questioning, Torres has been arrested and booked into the Coffee County Jail, under a no bond.
Information is the manager terminated Torres this morning and escorted him outside the fence of Dorsey Trailers in Elba. It is alleged that Torres went to his vehicle, obtained a vehicle, returning to the fence and firing several rounds over the fence and struck the manager in the back. Immediately the emergency system in Coffee County worked, and all agencies and outside agencies worked as one. In about 12 hours from the call hitting Coffee County 911, law enforcement had suspect identified, his location, resources in place, and the officers placed their lives in danger and took the alleged shooter into custody.
The Dothan Police Department is celebrating a major professional milestone as Lieutenant Lacy Watkins graduated from the FBI National Academy’s 296th session on December 11, 2025, in Quantico, Virginia.
Lt. Watkins becomes only the second female officer in department history to complete the prestigious program, an honor achieved by fewer than one percent of law enforcement officers nationwide. The 11-week academy is internationally recognized for its advanced training in leadership, communication, and physical fitness, and is reserved for officers with proven records of excellence.
The 296th session included 254 graduates representing 47 states, the District of Columbia, 24 countries, four military organizations, and two federal civilian agencies.
Chief William E. Benny praised Lt. Watkins’ accomplishment, citing her professionalism and leadership as key reasons for her selection. Lt. Watkins currently serves as division commander of the Professional Standards Division and has been with the Dothan Police Department since 2011. She was promoted to lieutenant in October 2023 after serving in both patrol and criminal investigations.
Since its founding in 1935, the FBI National Academy has produced more than 56,000 graduates worldwide, many of whom go on to serve in executive leadership roles within their agencies.
