Proudly serving Dothan, Alabama since 1904
Chief William Benny will present police and civilian promotions. In addition, the newly hired police officers will be sworn in and annual awards will be presented for Life Saving, Medal of Merit, Officer of the Year, and Sworn Supervisor of the Year.
The Dothan Police Department was notified by the Dothan Fire Department after a routine inventory that there was a missing amount of narcotics from a narcotics storage facility operated by the Fire Department. An investigation was started and the DEA was notified since the missing narcotic was identified as forty-two (42) one dose vials of Fentanyl, a Schedule II/IIN Controlled Substance. Substances in this schedule have a high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine.
Today that investigation has ended with the arrest of Jesse R. Taylor of Rehobeth. Taylor was a Dothan Fire Medic at the time of the theft and is responsible for the theft of the medication. Taylor has been on administrative leave since Wednesday, March 16, 2022. He is charged with Trafficking in Fentanyl and Theft of Property 2nd degree. Taylor has been booked into the Dothan City jail with bonds totaling $30,000. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and US Attorney’s Office have been notified and additional charges are possible.
Taylor has been served a notice of termination and the City will follow Dothan Personnel Rules and Regulations concerning his due process.
It is disturbing to all when a member of the public safety community violates the trust placed on them by the citizens they serve. The Dothan Fire Department and Chief Larry Williams have been transparent and assisted in the investigation in every way possible. By the nature of Taylor’s position in the Fire Department, he was able to access the storage location and remove the medication without suspicion until the inventory revealed the discrepancy. There are no other suspects in this case.
Since this case can be adopted into the Federal system, no other information can be released at this time. Any further questions should be directed to the DEA or the US Attorney’s Office in Montgomery.
William E. Benny
Chief of Police
On February 17, 2022, Dothan Police Officers were working the scene of a recovered stolen vehicle in the 2800 block of Montgomery Highway. A vehicle that was unrelated to the stolen vehicle drove through the crime scene, struck a Dothan Patrol vehicle and continued towards the Officers.
Officers gave commands for the driver to stop, which were not acknowledged. To avoid being struck by the vehicle a Dothan Police Officer fired at the suspect. After shots were fired, the vehicle continued south on Montgomery Highway, struck the stolen vehicle, and traveled down an embankment coming to rest near a building.
Dothan Officers gave emergency medical aid to the driver immediately after the incident. The driver was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
In accordance with policy a request was made to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Bureau of Investigations to respond to the scene and conduct an investigation. Any further questions should be directed to the State Bureau of Investigations.
William E. Benny
Chief of Police
The Dothan Police Department will be hosting its 26th Annual K9 Seminar. The seminar will be held February 7 through 11, 2022. K9 teams are expected to participate from all over the southeast region. Training will focus on narcotics and explosives detection, patrol apprehension and tracking. Each media outlet is being afforded the opportunity to come out an observe. For further information you may contact Lieutenant W.E. Wozniak at (334) 615-3916.
The video and photos below are from the Department’s 24th Annual K9 Seminar.
Over the July 4th weekend, Dothan Police officers responded to a high number of calls involving fireworks. Nearly 1 in 12 calls for service involved fireworks.
Many of these reports involved persons launching fireworks with intent to damage property or in a manner meant to injure persons.
Officers investigating fireworks complaints were targets of firework mortars intentionally fired at officers and their vehicles clearly intending to injure officers or damage their vehicles.
Use of fireworks inside of the city limits is both dangerous and illegal.
The video below contains a sample of calls and activity that officers faced over the weekend.
On June 16, 2021 just before 8 AM, patrol officers were dispatched to an incident on Ross Clark Circle. Following a brief altercation involving gunfire, the suspect fled in a police vehicle leading to a pursuit that terminated in the 2300 block of Denton Road. The suspect was taken into custody at that time.
Dothan Police will be releasing additional information about this incident to the media during a press briefing scheduled for 3PM on June 16, 2021 at the Dothan Police Department headquarters.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported the location of the end of the pursuit at 3200 block of Denton Road. This item has been revised to show the correct location. (17 Jun 2021)
As the July 4th holiday approaches, we remind our citizens fireworks are illegal in the City Limits of Dothan. The Police Department will be patrolling and may issue citations for illegal use of fireworks. For those readers who may legally use fireworks at their home (again, this is no one in the City Limits of Dothan!!) we would like to encourage safety first! We encourage those within the City Limits to visit a professionally produced fireworks show such as the “Fireworks on the Fairgrounds” beginning at 9:00 PM at the Peanut Festival Fairgrounds.
The National Council on Fireworks Safety lists nine safety tips that encourage firework users to celebrate our nation’s heritage on the Fourth of July safely.
If discharging fireworks where it is legal to do so:
The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has seen an increase in reports of online extortion scams during the current “stay-at-home” orders due to the COVID-19 crisis. Because large swaths of the population are staying at home and likely using the computer more than usual, scammers may use this opportunity to find new victims and pressure them into sending money. The scammers are sending e-mails threatening to release sexually explicit photos or personally compromising videos to the individual’s contacts if they do not pay. While there are many variations of these online extortion attempts, they often share certain commonalities.
Online extortion schemes vary, but there are a few common indicators of the scam. The following characteristics are not all-inclusive but should serve as red flags. It is important to remember that scammers adapt their schemes to capitalize on current events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, high-profile breaches, or new trends involving the Internet, all in an attempt to make their scams seem more authentic.
The FBI does not condone the payment of online extortion demands as the funds will facilitate continued criminal activity, including potential organized crime activity and associated violent crimes.
If you believe you have been a victim of this scam, reach out to your local FBI field office, and file a complaint with the IC3 at www.ic3.gov. Please provide any relevant information in your complaint, including the online extortion e-mail with header information and Bitcoin address if available.
Fake testing kits, “cures” and “treatments” for the virus, counterfeit personal protective equipment (PPE), and email phishing scams are examples of schemes that have become popular recently. Not only are these scams taking people’s money, they also have potentially dangerous consequences.
FDA Health Fraud Program
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
National Center for Disaster Fraud
https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud
The Dothan Police Department’s Patrol Division has responded to a number of party complaints over the weekend which violate the rules regarding gatherings promulgated by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) in the past week.
All non-work-related gatherings of 25 or more persons, or non-work-related gatherings of any size that cannot maintain a consistent six-foot distance between persons, are prohibited.
State Health Officer Order as Amended
These responses not only divert resources from our regular duties, but they put both the participants of the gatherings and the law enforcement officers and their families at risk of contracting coronavirus via a completely preventable route of infection.
We want to remind everyone that our community is under orders from the ADPH to refrain from participating in non-work related gatherings of 25 or more people in order to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
These rules have the effect of state law under Title 22-2-14 of the Code of Alabama 1975. The Dothan Police Department will enforce these rules as they are promulgated by ADPH.
Any person who knowingly violates or fails or refuses to obey or comply with any rule or regulation adopted and promulgated by the State Board of Health of this state shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than $25.00 nor more than $500.00 and, if the violation or failure or refusal to obey or comply with such rule or regulation is a continuing one, each day’s violation, or failure or refusal shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punished accordingly.
§ 22-2-14 Code of Alabama, 1975
Your cooperation is appreciated in this matter.
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