Alan McDearmond appointed as permanent police chief
Chief Alan McDearmond addresses the council and personnel board at a work session held Feb. 25. He was appointed permanent police chief by the Hartselle City Council Tuesday night. Photo by Rebekah Yancey.
The Hartselle City Council officially appointed Alan McDearmond as the permanent police chief during its regular meeting Tuesday. McDearmond has served as the interim chief since Jan. 28 after being appointed to fill the role left vacant by retiring chief Justin Barley. He participated in an interview with the council and personnel board at a work session held Feb. 25.
McDearmond, 53, has been a fixture in the Hartselle Police Department since 1999, joining the force as a booking clerk before rising through the ranks to his most recent appointment.
McDearmond earned an associate degree from Okaloosa Walton Community College and began his law enforcement career as a reserve officer with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in Florida while serving four years in the Air Force. He joined the Hartselle Police Department on January 25, 1999.
After several years on patrol, McDearmond transitioned to the investigations unit, where he served for 20 years, steadily advancing to sergeant and later lieutenant, overseeing the entire investigations team. Following the retirement of the previous captain, he was promoted to the role.
His leadership skills and reputation in the community made him the ideal candidate to take on the permanent role, according to council president Kenny Thompson.
“Our officers respect him and other department heads in the city respect him,” Thompson said. “He’s easy to work with and an all-around good guy.”
McDearmond said his mission is to provide the men and women of the Hartselle Police Department with continued quality training and support to make them the best they can be.
“It has been a humbling time in my life to have been named as the interim chief. I’ve had an outpouring of support from all over the state, but most important was the support of current and former members of the police department,” McDearmond said.
“The permanent appointment to chief is not an assignment I will take lightly. A police department is not just four walls with phones and computers. A police department is filled with employees who have dedicated themselves to community service,” he added. “Our officers undergo a rigorous background check and are driven by a sense of duty to our department and the people we serve.
We will continue to recruit officers with our mission and community in mind. I am thankful to the mayor and city council for placing their trust in me to serve the city in this capacity and look forward to working with them to continue improving service to the citizens of Hartselle.”
Hartselle Personnel Board president Rajane Johnson said she was impressed by McDearmond’s presentation and interview, and said he is “uniquely qualified” for the role of police chief.
“His responses demonstrated a depth of preparation and thoughtfulness that sets him apart as an exceptional candidate,” Johnson said. “Throughout the interview, McDearmond clearly articulated his vision and approach to leadership, showcasing the extensive experience he has accumulated over years of dedicated service.”
