The Andalusia Police Department surpassed its $10,000 Relay for Life goal by more than $2,500 on Friday with their seventh annual Arrest a Friend event.

More than 300 warrants were signed and delivered to area residents who had to make bail. As of Monday, the APD Relay team had collected $12,531.

The American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life raises funds for cancer research.

Chief Paul Hudson said he would like to thank all that participated and the business owners who allowed the officers to come into their business and “arrest” their employees while on the clock.

“Each year our success is owed to our community,” Hudson said. “If it were not for the men and women in Andalusia and Covington County supporting our efforts in fundraising for the American Cancer Society, our department would not be able to make this donation. Our officers donated their off day, my administrative staff worked diligently to organize and prepare for the day’s events, and several of the wives from the ‘Ladies Behind the Blue’ took time away from their jobs to help out.

“We focus on family at Andalusia Police Department,” Hudson said. “As a family, we know that cancer can and will most likely touch each of our lives at some point. We have dealt with losses within our own police department family – Lt. Jerry Parker and Officer Grady Barnes both lost their battles with cancer. We can’t control the disease but we can do our part to try and find a cure.”

Covington County’s Relay for Life will be Fri., April 24, on the midway at the Kiwanis Community Center.