Following the consolidation of the narcotics, criminal, and sex offense investigations divisions under a unified investigations division, Walker County has had a significant increase of recovered property and vehicles.

Sheriff Smith and the commission worked towards a compromise to decrease overtime expenses during the last fiscal year, and prepare for the upcoming pay raises in January. The WCSO employee number was capped, and compensatory time was instituted. To decrease the open slots, the investigations division was consolidated, and placed under the command of Captain Darrell Mote. Captain Mote was the division head of the criminal investigations and sex offense investigations, but now oversees the narcotics and street crimes investigators.

This allows for the reduction of slots, but not losing the much-needed personnel. In the consolidation, information is much more free flowing between the division members, and this is greatly evident in recent seizures of stolen property and vehicles.

In the past week, your WCSO investigators have recovered FIVE stolen vehicles, and FOURTEEN stolen firearms. Some vehicles were recovered in the Saragossa Community, however some of the property made its way to the City of Leeds. By working closely with Leeds Police Investigators, investigators were able to recover much of the property reported stolen.

Charges will be announced once warrants are obtained and served. These suspects are currently incarcerated with other jurisdictions, but we have the resources to go extradite those who do crime in our county!

These recoveries are the direct result of three things:
1.        Better communication and synergy within the unified investigations division
2.        Inter-agency cooperation
3.        Citizen Tips

We thank our investigators for their tireless dedication to our communities. They regularly have to sacrifice time, from their families, to come to scenes at all hours of the night. That time we pay them never can repay the lost memories with family, or friends. We can never repay them for that time, but we can all say thank you. The next time you see someone sporting a black polo that says investigator, tell them THANK YOU!

The reality of law enforcement is that we cannot be in all places, at all times. By speaking up, and saying something when suspicious activity takes place, you could make all the difference in whether a criminal evades justice. If YOU see something, SAY something, by submitting your tips through our app. They remain completely anonymous, and we investigate every lead to its fullest extent. Download our app by following the link below, and BE THE REASON someone gets their car back, their firearms back, or gets a case solved. Your tips are invaluable, so please submit them!

In continuing with our SRO fleet program, you will see our Dora school resource officer sporting a vehicle with a new striping design.
 
We’ve designed and rolled out school themed SRO cars, with the latest being issued to SRO Deputy Tim Thacker. From the halls, to the roads, everyone will easily spot and recognize this iconic and new design, featuring the bulldog logo, and pawprints beneath.
 
The each car features a student-made drawing, with Eli Pate being the featured artist of the Dora SRO car. We’re proud to showcase our students’ creativity, and this gives our students to see their own work, every school day.
 
We’re excited to be more than just a policing agency. We strive to be a part of our communities, and find ways to be more approachable. With these car designs, students, parents, and teachers find it easier to approach our deputies, and get help, or just strike up a conversation! We love the communities we serve, and look forward to how we can better serve you!

Last week, your WCSO responded to 377 calls for service. In these calls for service, is included calls for vandalism, stolen property recovery, and so much more. These calls for service are our primary responsibility, as public servants. We care about our community and strive to offer impeccable service to our citizens.   

While we weren’t busy with calls, we made 66 traffic stops, where we took time to educate citizens about the motor vehicle laws of Alabama. We also made eleven arrests during the week, which is a slight increase over the prior week’s numbers.   

We’re proud to serve you, Walker County. If you need us, please give us a call at 205-302-6464

Recently, while working from tips submitted via our website, deputies stumbled upon a stolen go-kart. By actively working the tips that we receive, it allows us to potentially track down wanted persons, stolen items, and combat drug activity.
 
If you want to submit your tips, you can do so through our WCSO app, which can be downloaded at https://apps.myocv.com/share/a43035501

Today signifies a major step forward for both this office, and our county as a whole. For over seven years, I have fought, tooth-and-nail, for twenty-four seven medical coverage for our county jail. Today, our county commission has voted to approve this monumental step forward.
 
The Office of the Sheriff commends our county commission for working with us to better serve the inmates, and navigate potential liabilities from not having a certified healthcare provider on the grounds at all hours. Today’s vote brings our county into the twenty-first century, as nearly every major correctional facility has around-the-clock medical staff. In 2020, the commission approved sixteen hours of coverage, but soon, it will become all day, every day.
 
With the rise in the fentanyl epidemic, incarcerated inmates, generally, suffer from more health issues than ever before. By making sure we have medical staff on campus at all times, we can assure the highest quality of care being provided to our inmates. Following a consent decree in the early 1990s, the WCSO correctional facility was mandated by a federal judge to have twenty-four-hour medical care, however the decree was lifted in 2006. We have not had all-day medical coverage for almost twenty years, or more. At this time, it is unsure whether the decree was ever followed, in that aspect, but this may possibly be the first time the Walker County Jail will have certified medical personnel at all times.
 
This is something that I have seen implemented with great success in many other county jails, and I am incredibly thankful for the commitment by our commission to making our jail a place where inmates can be changed in a positive way. If someone can start their own journey off being physically healthy, then their chances of coming back to jail plummet. We, again, thank the commission for their vote of approval, and we cannot wait to make this dream into reality.

Our Carbon Hill Dare Program Coordinator and SRO Amy Garrison had a fantastic time out at Carbon Hill’s Homecoming Parade.
 
Spreading positivity, and knowledge is the goal of the DARE program, and SRO Garrison achieved that goal today! We loved seeing you all at the parade, and if you want to see us out at your event, give us a call. We offer so many community programs, and send guest speakers to every corner of the county. We’ve got classes on signs of teen drug abuse, DARE, citizens academies, and so many others. View our community programs at walkercountysheriff.com

On Monday, October 14th, at approximately 4:55AM, the Walker County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) received a call from a concerned citizen. The caller reported a person lying in the median on Highway 78, near Scott’s Texaco in the Argo Hill area. The victim, later identified as Johnathan O’Neil Foster (age 40), appeared to have been struck by a vehicle.
 
We immediately coordinated with the Alabama State Troopers (AST), who began investigating this case as a potential hit-and-run incident. Unfortunately, Mr. Foster succumbed to his injuries, and an autopsy was ordered to determine the cause of death.
 
In the early stages, all evidence pointed to a tragic traffic accident. However, as the investigation unfolded, additional information came to light, raising concerns about the possibility of foul play. Our team at the WCSO worked closely with AST, conducting interviews and following up on numerous leads. On Wednesday, October 16th, around noon, the results of the autopsy confirmed that Mr. Foster’s injuries were not consistent with being struck by a vehicle. This critical finding shifted the focus of the investigation and led us to pursue other avenues to uncover what had truly happened.
 
After hours of meticulous work by our investigators and multiple interviews with potential witnesses, we gathered sufficient evidence to move forward with criminal charges. Yesterday, following careful consultation with the Walker County District Attorney’s Office, a warrant for murder was issued against a 17-year-old juvenile in connection with Mr. Foster's death. Due to the individual’s status as a juvenile, we are limited in what we can disclose about the suspect at this time. We want to emphasize, however, that we are working diligently within the legal system to ensure justice is served in this case.
 
We want to express our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Johnathan O’Neil Foster. Losing a loved one in such a sudden and violent way is unimaginable, and we stand with them during this difficult time. We also want to commend the investigators from WCSO and AST for their swift and collaborative efforts. Their dedication ensured that we quickly uncovered the truth and brought this case to where it stands today. Additionally, we extend our gratitude to the Walker County District Attorney’s Office for their support in this investigation.

To the residents of Walker County, please know that your safety is always our top priority. Cases like this are rare, and we remain committed to maintaining peace and security in our community.
 
While we understand that the public has many questions, especially concerning the suspect and the details surrounding this case, we must remind everyone that this involves a juvenile. We will protect the legal process, and the privacy rights associated with that status. At this time, the investigation is ongoing, and no further details will be released until appropriate. We ask for patience and understanding as we continue to pursue justice for Johnathan O’Neil Foster. Throughout the course of this investigation, we received numerous anonymous tips through our WCSO Sheriff’s Office mobile app. Although there has been an arrest the investigation will continue, and if anyone has any additional information about this case, please contact Investigator Bryant Parkhurst.

The next stop on our tour of the county brings us to Carbon Hill's Homecoming Celebration. The streets are lined with people, the air is crisp, and excitement is in the air as the Carbon Hill Varsity Bulldogs take on the Midfield Patriots.
 
We’re always excited to be an active and visible part of our community! Our office staff enjoys the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air, and new faces that they may not otherwise get to meet. Our office prioritizes community, and we love when we get to be a part of celebrations, and maybe get to take home some treats.
 
If you would like for us to attend your event, whether it be a parade, festival, or just to come and speak, we’re always available to our community! Call us at 205-302-6464.

Mrs. Jean Cagle handles, what we believe, to be the most important daily duty of the WCSO. That would be calling our good morning program participants, and just saying, “good morning!”
 
Sheriff Smith brought an amazing concept to the WCSO in 2019. If there is someone, who lives alone, the sheriff’s office takes a few moments to call them and check on them. In the event they don’t answer, we send out a deputy to do a welfare check. It’s an incredibly simple, but great program that takes time for us to check on our senior citizens. We have had many program participants, and several stories where deputies have been able to assist seniors in distress because of this program.
 
We love Mrs. Jean, and we love our senior citizens! If you, or someone you know, are interested in this program, call up to the sheriff’s office, or sign up at our website at walkercountysheriff.com!

Last week, your WCSO responded to 457 calls for service. In these calls for service, is included calls for vandalism, transporting juvenile suspects across the state, pursuits, and so much more. These calls for service are our primary responsibility, as public servants. We care about our community and strive to offer impeccable service to our citizens.  

While we weren’t busy with calls, we made 87 traffic stops, where we took time to educate citizens about the motor vehicle laws of Alabama. This is a significant increase over the prior week’s numbers due to this great weather. Everyone has been out enjoying it, but we want everyone to safe while doing so! We also made ten arrests during the week, which is a slight increase over the prior week’s numbers.  

We’re proud to serve you, Walker County. If you need us, please give us a call at 205-302-6464