Department History
• From 1894 to 1934 , law enforcement was handled through a succession of Marshals and Police Chiefs .
• In 1922 , the City bought a two-cell steel jail for $ 302.40 to replace the wooden jail .
• A . B . “ Ott ” Cribbs was hired as a police officer in 1926 and was appointed to Police Chief in 1934 , a position he held for the next 37 years until retirement in 1971 . Only 5 police chiefs have been appointed since 1971 .
• In 1941 , the City Council passed an ordinance permitting police officers to make arrests without warrants .
• In 1972 , APD ’ s SWAT team was developed .
• The K-9 Unit was established in 1985 .
• Harold Elliott became the department ’ s first full-time chaplain in 1982 .
A . B . ( Ott ) Cribbs 1934-1971
Roy Ables 1983-1985
• In 1986 , the department changed from a tan uniform to a dark blue uniform , established the Honor Guard , and instituted a bachelor ’ s degree entrance requirement .
• The department received its first CALEA accreditation in 1989 under the leadership of Chief David Kunkle .
• In 1992 , the department instituted bicycle patrols to support community-oriented policing projects .
• The department adopted geographic policing and problem solving in 1996 .
• Graduated the 50 th Academy class in 2016 .
Will Johnson 2013-present
Theron Bowman 1999-2012
David Kunkle 1985-1999
Police Chief Year Appointed Police Chief Year Appointed
Pearl Rudd |
Aug . 2 , 1915 |
Ed Collins |
April 16 , 1929 |
C . H . “ Punch ” Wright ( Refused to take office ) |
Feb . 21 , 1916 |
Linton Lovell |
May 5 , 1931 |
Walter Norvil |
March 6 , 1916 |
Ed Collins |
April 24 , 1933 |
Pearl Rudd |
1917 |
A . B . “ Ott ” Cribbs |
April 17 , 1934 |
Jim Coke |
April 14 , 1919 |
Herman Perry |
Feb . 1 , 1971 |
G . A . Coke |
April 7 , 1924 |
Roy Ables |
Oct . 1 , 1983 |
W . M . Douglass |
May 14 , 1925 |
David Kunkle |
Jan . 14 , 1985 |
G . A . Coke |
June 21 , 1926 |
Theron Bowman |
March 9 , 1999 |
Otto Grimmett |
Dec . 20 , 1926 |
Will Johnson |
March 18 , 2013 |
W . M . Douglass |
April 11 , 1927 |
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10
Annual Report 2016