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By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer 

ALABASTER – Visitors were treated to a special tour of Alabaster Police Department’s recently completed police station when the department served as the host for a meeting of the Rotary Club of Alabaster-Pelham on Thursday, June 13.

“The Alabaster Police Department had the honor of hosting the esteemed members of the Rotary Club of Alabaster-Pelham at our new state-of-the-art police station,” said Cpl. John St. Pierre of the Alabaster Police Department. “The event, a testament to our shared commitment to community engagement and transparency, provided Rotary Club members with an in-depth look into the workings of our facility.”

The evening began with a dinner where members of the club also heard comments from Alabaster Police Chief Curtis Rigney, who provided the group with an overview of the department and its number of divisions and operations.

Neal Wagner, public relations manager for the city of Alabaster, expressed gratitude for the Rotary Club’s presence at the event.

“We were honored to have the Rotary Club meet at the city’s beautiful new police station last Thursday night,” Wagner said. “After dinner, Chief Rigney and Cpl. St. Pierre led the group on a tour of the new police station.”

Located on the corner of Alabama 119 and 11th Street Southwest, the APD’s new department headquarters first began operations last October and features a number of enhanced capabilities and improvements over the department’s former 70-year-old facility.

St. Pierre led the tour of the department and guided the group through various key areas of the station, which included the APD’s Investigations Division.

“This comprehensive tour, a unique opportunity for Rotary members, allowed them to witness firsthand the advanced technology and modern resources that support our daily operations and enhance our service to the community,” St. Pierre said.

During the tour, club members were able to visit the department’s communications center, which serves as the hub for the APD’s management of emergency calls and dispatching officers. The group also visited detectives in the Criminal Investigations Division offices and were provided access to the station’s administration offices.

“The tour of the Investigations Division provided insights into the procedures followed during criminal investigations,” St. Pierre said. “Additionally, the roll-call room and sally port were showcased. The roll-call room is where officers gather for briefings and updates before their shifts, while the sally port is designed to transfer and process individuals in custody securely.”

St. Pierre specifically noted the event as one that was productive and engaging, and cited the department’s appreciation toward the Rotary Club of Alabaster-Pelham while thanking club members for their interest in the department’s work and dedication to public safety.

“Such interactions strengthen the bond between our police department and the community we serve,” St. Pierre said. “This event (also) underscores our ongoing efforts to foster transparency and trust within the community. We look forward to hosting more groups and continuing our open dialogue with the citizens of Alabaster.”