Mayor James Perkins has heard the rumblings. He’s not happy about them either.

A move has surfaced within the Alabama Department of Public Safety to move its police training academy from Selma’s Craig Field to Ft. McLellan in Anniston.

“I really take exception to this because someone is implying that we’re not taking care of Craig,” Perkins said. “That’s a low blow, and it’s uncalled for.”

At issue is the condition of Craig Field. Reporters from both The Birmingham News and The Anniston Star wrote stories about the police academy. Both stories said leaders within the ADPS want to move the police academy to Anniston.

“The current State Trooper Academy has deteriorated and is housed in three old Craig Air Force Base buildings on U.S. 80,” said a story in The News. “A fourth building is not used because it is unsafe.”

Col. James Alexander, quoted in The Star, said the facility is old and “the cost for maintenance is huge.”

Upon reading the stories, Perkins said he immediately forwarded a letter to State Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma.

“We just went through this six or eight months ago,” Perkins said. “What bothers me so much is that Craig is owned by the state. Why have they let it get in such bad condition?”

In The News’ story, conditions at Craig were described as deplorable.

“An electrical fire last week damaged dorm rooms. The heating and cooling system in all buildings in inadequate,” the story said. “Plaster falls from walls. The parking lot is riddled with potholes. There are no cutoff valves to commodes in a gym bathroom, so the water runs continuously. Daylight shines through a hole in the gym roof.”

One member of the academy staff poked fun at his job at Craig.

“I tell the students that it’s my job as operations officer to keep the roof from falling in on their heads,” Sgt. Frank Higginbotham said. “I’m not kidding them.”

Perkins said he doesn’t know what will happen with the situation, and he said Gov. Don Siegelman’s office will be made aware of the problems.

Selma’s mayor also said he is concerned about where the information has come from and what the intent of the news is.

“The accusations wreak of some sort of ulterior motive,” Perkins said.