Retired Selma assistant chief of police dies

By Katie Nichols (Contact) | Selma Times-Journal

Published Friday, July 10, 2009

Whether he was narrowly missing Japanese bombs, working as assistant chief of police or helping Edgewood students cross the street, Charlie Georgton Jones, 83, did it in a way that made most people like and respect him.

Jones died Thursday after a recent spell of health issues.

However, those who knew him well didn’t focus on his health.

Around the Selma Police Department Friday, officers remembered Jones for who he was — a lovable, dedicated officer and man.

“I’ve always said that if you talked to Charlie for one minute you would like him and if you talked to him for two minutes, then you would love him,” Sgt. Doug Stewart said. “Everybody loved him. You couldn’t find a more likeable guy.”

Lt. David Evans recalled their interview process with Jones. After the chief of police asked the tough questions, Jones asked about who their family was.

When Lt. Art Freine began under working under Jones, the police department didn’t provide a gun, ammunition or holster. Freine had the gun, but not a holster and he wasn’t sure if he had the right ammunition.

“I remember asking him what kind of bullets should I use,” Freine said. “He looked at me and said ‘the kind that fits.’”

Jones, who hired all the supervising officers currently at the police department, also made a special impression on his stepson, Lt. John Brock.

“He raised me from the time I was 10 years old,” Brock said. “He was a father and hero to me. I knew since that time I wanted to follow in his footsteps and be a police officer.”

Jones, who was born in Chilton County, moved to Selma in 1962 to begin his work as an officer. He didn’t retire until Nov. 1, 1989.

Even then he couldn’t stay away long from the department he loved. Jones returned as a school guard for Edgewood Elementary School.

“He loved the police department,” Brock said. “He worked through the ranks and worked in, I believe, every division. He knew that department like the back of his hand. When he retired, he eventually came back because he wanted to help.”

Jones may be a familiar face to Edgewood students who attended from 1992 until 2004, which is when he served as school guard.

He also may be remembered as the only person who wore shorts with his uniform in the summer. Brock said Jones would have his pants hemmed so he wouldn’t have to suffer in the sweltering heat.

Before Jones’ long career at the Selma Police Department, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and missed the attack on Pearl Harbor by a hair.

“He was stationed in Hawaii during World War II,” Brock said. “He actually left the day before Pearl Harbor was attacked. They left out of there to San Francisco for leave. When they heard about the attack, they turned around, but it was over by the time they got back.”

On March 19, 1965, the national spotlight turned to Selma and the voting rights movement and briefly focused on Jones. Life magazine featured a full-page photo of him complete with a cigar.

The Life caption reads, “A Selma policeman waits for the trouble that everyone expects to come again.”

Jones, who frequently smoked cigars, had two nicknames — Teddy Bear and Cigar Charlie.

On Sunday at 2:30 p.m., family, friends, officers and maybe a few Edgewood students will gather at Selma Funeral Home Chapel to celebrate the life of a man who had a near-miss with Japanese fire, served the Selma Police Department for nearly 37 years, ushered small children safely across busy streets and left a lasting impression on their lives.

The family will also receive visitors Saturday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

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