Gantt Police Chief Wesley Snodgrass recently earned the designation as a certified law enforcement executive from the Alabama Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission. The designation is awarded to law enforcement managers upon completion of a 240-hour training program administered through the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP) in partnership with the University Partnership of Alabama for Continuing Education (UPACE). The program takes a minimum of three years to complete and has four levels; Level I – Certificate in Police Management (40 hours), Level II – Certified Police Chief (80 hours and current service as a Police Chief), Level III – Certified Police Chief (160 hours and current Chief), and Level IV – Advanced Certified Police Chief (240 hours and current Chief).

“It has been an enlightening and fulfilling journey to complete the program,” Snodgrass said. “It can be challenging to make classes with work responsibilities and all the issues that come up in public service. I am very grateful to Mayor Missy Grissett and each of our members on the town council. They have been very supportive and understand the value of law enforcement training and leadership in today’s environment. I could not have reached this milestone without their efforts and involvement. We have a great community and I am thankful to serve the people of the Town of Gantt.”

There are seven municipal police departments in Covington County and each police chief participates in CLEEP (certified law enforcement executive program) through conferences and classes conducted by the universities at various locations through out the state.