By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–The city of Helena formally introduced a new police chief for the Helena Police Department on Monday, Oct. 5, at the Helena City Council Meeting.

Former Pelham Police lieutenant and investigations division commander Pete Folmar and his family were on hand for his swearing in ceremony.

Helena City Hall was packed with Folmar’s family members, friends, Helena and Pelham police officers, current and former police chiefs including current Alabaster Police Chief Curtis Rigney, current Pelham Police Chief Larry Palmer and former Pelham Police Chiefs Tommy Thomas and Alan Wade, as well as Shelby County District Attorney Jill Lee.

When introducing Folmar, Helena Mayor Mark Hall pointed to his many years of experience as a big factor of why he was chosen for the new police chief position.

Folmar began his law enforcement career in 1994 at the Anniston Police Department and has been with the Pelham Police Department since 1996 serving in a variety of different capacities.

Folmar has served in both the patrol and investigations divisions. He was promoted to sergeant in 2002 and has served as a patrol sergeant and as an investigation’s sergeant.

Folmar said he was excited to get started with Helena but was also very thankful for his time at Pelham and the people he worked with on a daily basis.

“It’s very, very exciting and I’m so thankful for Pelham Police Department and all they have given me through the years,” said Folmar. “Those three gentlemen right there (former and current police chiefs), if I could just pick their brains, this job would be a whole lot easier because they’ve been chiefs a long time in this county and to have them here means a great deal. To have all of my family here is an awesome thing and I’m very excited about the whole thing and I’m ready to get to work.”

Hall also said that it “speaks volumes” to Folmar’s character that so many former chiefs and colleagues came to his swearing in ceremony.

“You know, we have police chiefs here from all our surrounding communities to come see Pete to send him off on his new mission here and that just speaks volumes,” said Hall. “The cooperation between those three cities has never been better. These three cities work together hand-in-hand more than most citizens would ever know and to have the ability to continue that is just very important to us.”

Helena Councilman Mike Jones expressed his support for Folmar and also referred to the crowd in the room.

“It says a lot about a man when he fills a room, and when he fills a room with some of the folks that are in this room it says a lot,” said Jones. “Pete is a great family man but it’s also evident that he’s respected not only by his former leaders and current leaders that he served under, but also the men and women that served under him and that says a lot.”

Folmar holds a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice administration from the University of Phoenix and is a graduate of the Northeast Alabama Police Academy.

Folmar has been a resident of Helena for the past 10 years, where he lives with his wife and six children.