The Pelham Police Department is a modern, progressive, full-service municipal law enforcement agency dedicated to the ideal of providing superior police services to the community it serves. To address the needs of our citizens, the Department employs a total of 87 police personnel, of which 71 are sworn police officers, 12 police/fire/9-1-1 dispatchers, 2 records clerks, 1 communications/records manager, and 1 Administrative Assistant. Employees are distributed among the various BUREAUS AND DIVISIONS throughout the police department’s organizational structure.
The Department is comprised of two organizational bureaus (Field Services and Support Services) consisting of four (4) operating divisions; Administrative Services Division, Criminal Investigations Division, Patrol Division, and Communications & Records Division. Personnel from each of these divisions also staff specialty units that provide unique or specialized services as needed, such as Tactical Operations, Crisis/Hostage Negotiations, K-9 handler, Evidence Technicians, and Traffic Operations. Pelham Police Department personnel are the highest trained law enforcement officers in Shelby County due to an aggressive field training program for new police personnel as well as regular required in-service training for all police officers.
Located in Shelby County in Central Alabama, the city limits of Pelham encompass an area of approximately 40 square miles with two major thoroughfares, Interstate 65 and U.S. Highway 31, bisecting the City. Pelham is a suburb in the Birmingham-Hoover, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area with a population of 1,140,300 people and the population of Pelham was 22,699 people as of the 2014 census estimate. In addition to the many residential areas within the City, there is also a substantial retail/business/manufacturing composite along with a strong parks and recreation segment.
Oak Mountain State Park, the largest state park in Alabama, is in Pelham’s backyard. Scenic hiking trails, horseback riding, a petting farm for youngsters, fishing, boating, archery, and golf are just a few of the activities offered at this beautiful park located on 10,000 acres. The Oak Mountain Amphitheater, an outdoor music venue, seats approximately 10,000 people and schedules concerts from May – September.
The Pelham city park offers a wonderful playground for children, a walking track, and picnic areas. The Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena, home of the Alabama Frozen Tide, provides ice-skating, hockey, and banquet facilities. Ballantrae Golf Club opened June 1, 2004 with eighteen beautiful holes, designed by Bob Cupp. Pelham Racquet Club, host of several tennis tournaments each year, is home to 20 clay courts and 5 hard courts with above tournament grade lighting.
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide the highest quality law enforcement services to the citizens we serve. With a drive and commitment towards excellence we will strive to reduce crime, create a safer environment, and improve the quality of life in the City of Pelham, Alabama. Our success shall not be measured just by specific statistics, but also by our commitment toward excellence in the delivery of our services.
GOALS
To accomplish the stated mission of the Pelham Police Department, the following specific goals have been established:
- Preservation of human life
- Crime prevention and suppression
- Investigation of crimes
- Apprehension of offenders
- Crime reduction
- Law Enforcement
- Facilitate the movement of traffic and people
- Investigation of traffic accidents
- Maintenance of public order
- Provision of emergency services
- Provision of general public service
- Protection of the community’s constitutional rights
MOTTO
“Honesty, Integrity and Professionalism” is the motto of the Pelham Police Department.
HONESTY. Honesty is defined as the quality or condition of being honest; truthfulness. By incorporating honesty into our motto, we are acknowledging the importance of establishing and maintaining credibility with those whom we serve. As much as partnerships serve as a cornerstone of community policing, honesty is the cornerstone of a healthy partnership.
INTEGRITY. Integrity is defined as adhering to your moral and ethical principles. In simpler terms, it means that your actions are synonymous with what you say and believe. To lack integrity is to be hypocritical. By having integrity as part of our motto, we vow to conduct ourselves in a manner that attests to our personal honor, virtue, and incorruptibility.
PROFESSIONALISM. Professionalism is defined as being professional in character, spirit, and methods. It is embodying the high ideals held by the community, and using our professional expertise to reach and maintain the high standards rightfully placed upon us as a law enforcement agency. By including professionalism in our motto, we are pledging to provide exceptional customer service, follow through on our responsibilities even amidst adversity, and be cognizant not to allow prejudices to cloud our objectivity.
VALUES
In dealing with our community and citizens, we:
- Recognize that we are here to serve the needs of the Community.
- Strive to provide the best police services possible, in a professional and positive manner.
- Operate with ethics, honesty, and integrity.
- Treat all citizens with respect, dignity, and fairness.
- Are responsive to the changing needs of our Community and citizens we serve.