By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Joe Mann, a veteran law enforcement officer with more than 20 years of experience, was appointed Somerville police chief Dec. 31 and assumed the position Jan. 4. He follows Chris Landers who resigned Dec. 30 after serving in the position for 15 months.
Mayor Ray Long said Landers' resignation came unexpectedly and was for personal reasons.
"He did a good job for us and we hated to lose him," Long added. "We have newer and better vehicles and equipment and written policies and procedures because of his initiative and expertise.
"I feel we were fortunate to be able to hire someone with Joe Mann's background and experience in law enforcement to come in and run the police department," he said. "I've known him for a long time and I look forward to working with him. I'm confident he'll do a good job."
Mann, 43, began his law enforcement career with Hartselle Police Department in 1985 after graduating from Calhoun Community College with an associate degree in police science. He left in 1991 to become a Morgan County sheriff's deputy and returned in 1997. He earned the rank of lieutenant and was assigned to third shift patrol duty. He graduated from the Alabama Police Academy in Selma, received special training in narcotics and drugs detection and holds federal certification in firearms training.
"I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve in this position," Mann stated. "I view it as a personal challenge and look forward to serving the people of this community. "I've always liked this area and I think I can make a difference."
Mann was born in Huntsville but raised in the Cotaco community. He is a 1981 graduate of Brewer High School.
He is married to the former Mary Horton of Hartselle, a career math teacher at Lacey's Spring School. They have two daughters, Christi, 15, a sophomore at Brewer High, and Jessi, 14, an eighth grader at Cotaco Junior High. They reside midway between Somerville and Cotaco and are members of Shiloh Baptist Church.