Tim Glasgow descends from a long line of Shelby County residents.

His grandfather was a textile worker in Siluria and of course everyone knows Tim’s dad, Buddy, who was sheriff from 1978 to 1990.

Law enforcement is all Glasgow knows. When he was 14 he became a police cadet. Busting up a friends’ party might have been a hardship at times, but Glasgow, after graduating from Thompson High School in 1987, chose to become a dispatcher with the Alabaster Police Department.

After three years in that position, he made the decision to go to the Police Academy and cannot imagine being in any other job field.

He has always served with the Alabaster department and actually could retire in 31 more months.

One can only golf, hunt and fish so much, and 40 is much too early to even think of retiring.

The favorite part of Glasgow’s job is the variety of ways you can help or influence someone.

You have to be both umpire and counselor by listening to both sides and remaining neutral even when you observe people throwing their lives away.

As the operations commander, Glasgow is in charge of ordering all equipment, including the procurement of the department’s vehicles.

Glasgow is quick to point out that Alabaster has a “good bunch” in the 60 policemen it employs. He is proud to be an “Alabaster boy,” THS graduate and Alabaster policeman.

Thankful for the life he’s had and not one to dwell on hardships he’s endured, he and wife Lisa look forward to a fulfilling life no matter what comes their way.

Community columnist Sandra Thames can be reached by e–mail at bobthames1942@yahoo.com.