By Erica Thomas, managing editor
MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP) is meeting in Montgomery this week for the 2020 Winter Conference.
AACOP meets twice a year, once in the winter and once in the summer. The Winter Conference is being held at Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center, from Feb. 17-20.
Oxford Police Chief Bill Partridge serves as the President of the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police. Partridge directed the conference.
“We bring in all the chief administrators of all the cities in the state of Alabama and we hold executive-style training,” Partridge said.
This year’s training focuses on leadership and vicarious liability. Partridge said it is important for all municipalities and cities to ensure their departments are in a certain order.
“You don’t want to have things broken, you want your jail to be in order, and they need to know about things they could get sued over,” Partridge explained.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall stopped by during day two of the conference. Partridge said Marshall spoke about recent police shootings and he offered words of encouragement to the chiefs in attendance.
“He encouraged the chiefs to keep their heads held high,” Partridge said.
Ashville Police Chief Ed Hampton said the visit from Marshall meant a lot to him.
“Kimberly Officer Nick O’Rear, who was just killed, used to work for us,” said Hampton. “It’s a terrible thing. We actually sent him to the police academy. It happens and you hear and see it happening, but it never hits that close to home.”
Over 400 participants are registered in the Winter Conference. The police chiefs from Trussville, Springville, Argo, Ashville, Moody, Odenville, Vincent and Ragland are among those registered.
“I hope they take the training,” Partridge said. “I hope they’ve learned something this week that will help them and benefit them in doing their day-to-day job.”
As President, Chief Partridge is also in charge of choosing who trains the chiefs during the conference. Outside of the conference, he deals with legislative matters and works with lawmakers.
The conference ends Thursday.