Mike Bowlan has been promoted to captain and named assistant police chief in Andalusia, Mayor Earl Johnson announced Monday morning.

Bowlan began his career in law enforcement as a dispatcher in the Luverne Police Department in 1990. He joined the Andalusia Police Department as a patrol officer in 1992, and has worked in the narcotics division, supervised the narcotics division and served as commander of the 22nd Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force for two and a half years.

Most recently, Bowlan has worked as commander of the criminal investigations division of the APD.

“We had several highly qualified candidates for this position,” Johnson said, “any of whom could have done a good job.”

APD Chief Wilbur Williams said choosing a new assistant police chief posed “a dilemma in management you want to have.”

“When I accepted this job almost 10 years ago, one of my first challenges was to develop officers in the department,” he said. “Bowlan was one of the first people I identified. I was commander of the DTF at the time.”

Williams added that Bowlan had done a great job of putting the DTF together with few resources.

Williams said Bowlan has a trait valued in management in that he never asks those who work for him “to do something he wouldn’t do himself.”

Williams said he is glad to have Bowlan as an assistant.

“We would be headed in the same direction with any of those who applied,” Williams said. “I’m confident in Capt. Bowlan and his skills and his plate will be full shortly.”

Approximately 40 people were on hand for the announcement.

“All of these eyes on me is a reminder of all the people in Andalusia really watching,” Bowlan said. “It means the world to me and my family that each of you are here.”

Bowlan was joined at the announcement by members of his family, including his wife, Kelli, and two of his three sons, Caleb, 7, and Jacob, 17 months.

Bowlan said the “bar has been set high” by both Johnson and Williams.

“I know what they expect,” he said.

Bowlan has completed a number of advanced training courses, including courses in performance and evaluation, financial resources, retention and recruitment through the Certified Law enforcement Executive Development Program. He also has completed Homeland Security training, as well as specialized training in investigations and drug investigations.