[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/bluewatchfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/spotlight.jpeg” title_text=”spotlight” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″]<\/p>\n
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This quarter we will feature retired Houston County Sheriff Andy Hughes. We recently sat down with Sheriff Hughes and asked him a few questions.<\/p>\n
Tell us about your law enforcement career and why you decided to pursue it.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I would have to say that my law enforcement career was predestined. I was born in a Salvation Army Home for unwed mothers in Birmingham. Six months later, I was adopted by a Dothan Police Department detective and his wife, Billy Ray and Marie Hughes. Even though both have gone on to heaven I still thank God every day for the kind, loving, Godly parents that he gave me.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/bluewatchfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Andy-IMG_4609.jpeg” title_text=”Andy-IMG_4609″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″]<\/p>\n My father and many of his fellow officers were a huge influence upon me, and anybody who knew me as I was growing up realized I was going to be a law enforcement officer. My father encouraged me to explore other career options as I got older, but I always came back to law enforcement. In 1986 at the age of 18, I was hired as a dispatcher with the Houston County Sheriff\u2019s Office. I later worked in the county jail as a corrections officer and was sworn in as a deputy sheriff in December 1988. As a deputy, I worked in patrol and narcotics divisions prior to accepting a job as a patrol officer with the Dothan Police Department in 1990. I was promoted to Corporal in 1992 and to Sergeant in 1994. While at the Dothan PD, I served in the Patrol Division, Vice\/Intelligence Division, and the Special Operations Division.<\/p>\n In 2006, I ran for Sheriff of Houston County and won and re-elected to a second term in 2010. In 2014, I was unopposed in the Sheriff\u2019s race but decided to accept an offer to be appointed as an Assistant Director for Homeland Security with the newly created Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. During my tenure at ALEA, I served as the Chief of Tactical Operations, commanding the statewide SWAT team, Aviation Unit and Bomb Team (EOD).<\/p>\n After a 30-year career in law enforcement I retired in 2016. I was very fortunate to have had the law enforcement career that I did and to experience the many different aspects of the job, the highs and the lows, the good and the bad and I still miss it every day.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″]<\/p>\n What role does faith play in your life and why is it important for those in law enforcement?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n As far as faith goes, I really don\u2019t see how anyone without faith in God can do the job as a law enforcement officer. Cops see so many bad things, so much violence, so many dead people and lots of people in desperate situations. There has to be a tremendous feeling of faith, hope and encouragement within a LEO\u2019s heart and they should exude that to everyone that they come in contact with whether on or off duty.<\/p>\n Faith plays a tremendous role in my life, I put 100% of my faith in God and I realize that even with all of the bad stuff going on in our world right now it is all part of his plan, and as you should know, Christians are victorious at the end of the story. Just because we know all of this bad stuff is part of his plan doesn\u2019t mean that we should just sit back on our heels as the world spins away. As LEO\u2019s it is our job to be \u201cA Minister of God to thee for good\u201d (Romans 13:4). According to scripture it is also our job to \u201cBear the Sword\u201d when someone \u201cdoeth that which is evil\u201d.<\/p>\n A lot of the general public, media and even cops have gotten so caught up in the thought that cops should or shouldn\u2019t be warriors but rather should be guardians. It is my opinion that if you\u2019re a good cop then you should have the ability to be a warrior, a guardian, a peacemaker and a public servant and you should have the ability to transition between these roles multiple times during your shift. The public that we serve should also be able to expect this from their LEO\u2019s.<\/p>\n Our country is currently in a crisis, actually many crises, but the main one I\u2019m speaking of is the recruitment and retention of quality law enforcement personnel. As current and retired LEO\u2019s we\u2019ve got to stop saying, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t encourage anybody to get into law enforcement these days\u201d. I\u2019ve recently developed a presentation that was inspired by the Lord. Its titled \u201cBear the Sword\u201d and its purpose is to inspire future generations of law enforcement officers and law enforcement leadership.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″]<\/p>\n Why is the mission of Blue Watch and other like- minded organizations important?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Blue Watch and other faith-based organizations serve a vital role in supporting law enforcement officers and their families. As cops it\u2019s easy to forget that we\u2019re appreciated and that we serve a vital role in maintaining law and order, keeping the peace, bringing criminals to justice and saving lives. If law enforcement fails, our society would fall.<\/p>\n Blue Watch intends to always make sure LEO\u2019s hear that message loud and clear. Blue Watch is instrumental in providing free or low-cost training to LEO\u2019s throughout the state of Alabama and beyond our borders. Blue Watch also provides other sources of assistance to LEO\u2019s in need. I really appreciate Burke Swearingen and his vision for Blue Watch, and I also appreciate Burke for letting me be a small part of what Blue Watch does on a daily basis.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ custom_padding=”|0px||||”]<\/p>\nLook at What’s Coming Up!<\/h2>\n