News Releases

Mobile Police Announce Restructuring, Promotions of Staff

May 27th, 2015

Chief James H. Barber announced today the restructuring of the staff of the Mobile Police Department, including the retirement of Assistant Chief Joseph Kennedy and the hiring of Kennedy's replacement, Lawrence L. Battiste, IV.

Kennedy is retiring from uniformed services as a sworn officer after 38 years of service to the Mobile Police Department. He has accepted a civilian Chief of Staff position with the Department. This position, which has been staffed by various executive sworn personnel since 2006, was formerly referred to as the Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police.

Incoming Assistant Chief Battiste has worked in law enforcement for 26 years, most recently serving as Chief Juvenile Probation Officer with the Mobile County Juvenile Court. He has held positions with the Mobile County Sheriff's Department and served as the Chief of the Prichard Police Department. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Battiste will take over the role of Assistant Chief after his swearing in at the Promotion Ceremony which will take place on Friday, May 29, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. At that time, the following promotions will also take place:

Captain to Major
John Barber
Philip McCrary

Lieutenant to Captain
William Jackson
William Reed

Sergeant to Lieutenant
Scott Congleton
Rodney Greeley
Melvin Jones
Carla Shumock
Paul Soulier

Corporal to Sergeant
Charles DeGeer
Jason Henson
Lee Laffitte
Lorenzo Matthews
Charles Pharr
Erika Stuart
Thomas Terrell
Officer to Corporal
Adam Austin
Jeffrey Corley
Joshua Gibbs
Kenneth Gillespie
D'Alo Green
Paul Hosford
Jirasak Ingram
Joshua Joerger
Byron Sutherland
Charles Welch
John Young

Majors Barber and McCrary will replace the recently retired Majors Barton and Lawson. In his strategic plan released after his appointment, Chief Barber pointed out the organization of command-level staff of the Department needed restructuring to offer "better collaboration, coordination and cooperation between the administrative and support side of the department with the operations side." The current restructuring and promotions "continues to create a more streamlined organization and executive staff," said Chief Barber. "It is not the quantity but the quality of command that creates an effective staff."

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Ashley H. Rains
Public Affairs
Public Information Office