Jamey Wismer has been named a captain and assistant chief in the Andalusia Police Department.
APD Chief Paul Hudson made the announcement Monday.
Capt. Wismer, a 25-year veteran of law enforcement, will oversee investigations for APD. He most recently worked as a district manager in the Department of Pardons and Paroles. His previous work includes time in the district attorney’s office as an investigator, the Covington County Drug Task Force, and the Troy Police Department.
“We went to the mayor and council about a month ago and asked to bring someone on in this position to run criminal investigations,” Hudson said. “Capt. Wismer won’t have a personal case load, but will oversee operations and assist investigators when they need help. We thought he would be a great fit to come in and help us get prepared for the future.”
Wismer, who also has worked as a trainer in Pardons and Paroles, will help develop courses to be offered at the department’s training facility.
Wismer said in his most recent role in Pardons and Paroles, he supervised 42 employees in seven counties, and was based in Dothan.
“When I hit my 25-year mark, I wanted to get back to my community,” he said. “The majority of my work has been here, and this was a great opportunity for me to come back to my county.”
Wismer said he particularly enjoys investigative work.
“I like figuring out the justice, for the victims, and for the community,” he said. “If the suspect’s not caught, then there’s another victim.”
He also has completed the training in hostage negotiations, and has successfully neutralized several potentially deadly situations.
Wismer graduated from Opp High School, and attended LBW Community College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Troy University while simultaneously working for the Troy Police Department.
He and his wife, Angela, are the parents of four daughters, Hannah, Emily, Maddie and Allie.
Barbara Tyler spent most of her career working to improve the lives of youth. She retired this week after 19 years with the City of Andalusia.
Tyler, whose background is in education, joined the City of Andalusia in 2000 as youth sports coordinator.
“My kids were playing sports, so I had an interest,” she said.
She is proud to have instituted a vote for players in the selection of all-star teams. While she was told allowing players to vote would mean each player would vote for him or herself, she found that players’ votes were generally the most honest, free from favoritism and based more on players’ abilities.
Tyler’s first foray into grant writing came in pursuit of the skate park located in Johnson Park. She later worked as grants coordinator for the city, and was a key player in the city’s efforts to secure funding for and build the Miracle League park and field.
When the City of Andalusia and Andalusia City Schools partnered to develop an after-school program, Tyler was named director of the A.P.P.L.E. The program provides a safe place for students after school where they receive a snack, have free time, are assisted with homework, and have opportunities to pursue extra-curricular activities.
“We never had to worry about the after-school program, because we knew Barbara would take care of all of the details,” Andy Wiggins, Director of Planning for the city, said. “She’s done a great job with the kids.”
Tyler was honored on Wednesday with a retirement reception at city hall. Mayor Earl Johnson read a proclamation in her honor, and expressed his appreciation for her dedication to the city.
Tyler’s degree is in education, and she taught sixth grade, kindergarten and third grade early in her career.
She and her husband, Mike, are the parents of three adult children.
The Andalusia Fire Department took delivery of its 2019 KME Custom pumper truck Wednesday.
The new truck replaces a 30-year-old truck purchased in 1989, and allows the department to deliver its required fire flow with two trucks instead of three, Fire Chief Russell McGlamory said. The new truck can pump 2,000 gallons per minute.
The pumper has many safety features, including back-up and overhead cameras, and alerts to ensure that firefighters are buckled up when the truck is in motion. It also has USB ports for iPads used by the department.
The pumper represents a $488,471 long-term investment in equipment by the City of Andalusia.
When students in Andalusia Elementary School students go back to class on Monday, they will have a new school resource officer.
Officer Tessa Crowell, who joined the APD last fall, said she wanted the opportunity to take on this new role because she believes every child needs a good role model.
Sgt. Jackie Woods, who has served as SRO at all Andalusia City Schools campuses for the past 15 years, said there is one thing of which Officer Crowell can be certain: Her day will be filled with hugs from AES students.
“They love police officers at AES,” Woods said. “I’m glad to have her here taking a part in all of the school activities.”
Officer Crowell graduated from Straughn High School and joined the APD last year. When she’s not working, she and her husband, Brandon, enjoy spending time with their families.
The Andalusia Board of Education and the Andalusia Police Department recently finalized a funding agreement to add the additional officer.
The City of Andalusia improved its net position, including its unrestricted funds, and reduced its long-term debt in 2018.
Missy Pierce and Gail Hayes of Rabren, Odom, Pierce and Hayes presented a draft of the city’s FYE 2018 audit to the city council Tuesday night.
Pierce, who gave the council an overview, said the city increased its net position to $26.79 million, an increase of $1.08 million over the previous year. It marked the fifth consecutive year in which the net position increased, she said.
What is even more remarkable, she said, is that the net position includes more than $4.8 million in unrestricted funds.
“I went online and checked surrounding towns and could not find any that compared,” Pierce said. “Most actually had a deficit in the unrestricted net position.”
The net position reflects what a government would have left over after satisfying its liabilities.
Other highlights of the audit, which had no findings, include:
• The city’s largest source of revenue, its sales and use tax, increased by $300,000 over the previous year.
• The city was able to draw from its reserves to provide the matching funds for the South Three Notch Street project and other smaller capital expenses, but also replenished the reserves adequately.
• Since the new sales tax was adopted in July of 2013, the city has transferred more than $6.1 million in new revenue to Andalusia City Schools for new academic programs and capital projects.
• The city decreased its long-term debt by $1.88 million in the 2018 fiscal year. In the current quadrennium, the city has reduced its long-term debt by $4.2 million.
• The debt retirement figures are absent the $7 million bond issue done in 2018 for the improvements of Andalusia High School’s auditorium and stadium. Andalusia City Schools fully funds the payment on that note.
“The city is in extremely sound financial condition,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “This administration has worked very hard to reach its goals of lowering debt and improving the city’s financial position. The members of the city council and our department heads are to be congratulated for this work.”