after 25 years at the SPD

BY VICTOR INGE

THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL

Alvin Blackmon has called it quits, at least to his 25-year career at the Selma Police Department.

He spent Thursday cleaning out his desk. It was made even more difficult since it was after lunch, and his co-workers treated him a heavy lunch of barbecue ribs, chicken, potato salad, baked beans, green beans, macaroni, yams and cake.

Working as a veteran detective for the last decade, he says won’t be hard to shake. Blackmon worked the midnight shift for the first 10 years of his career. He has spent the last four years as a detective.

While he admits he won’t just sit around the house, Blackmon said 25 years was long enough to do any one thing. In all those years he said he’s pulled his service weapon, but has never had to fire it. There have been ups and downs, but he says &8220;its all in police work.&8221;

Times have changed, said Blackmon, who started working prior to the spread of crack cocaine.

Blackmon has been known as &8220;a smooth operator,&8221; and had a way of getting information that has helped solve hundreds of cases. His colleagues said his experience and his personality would be missed.

Chief Jimmy Martin said Blackmon &8220;helped other detectives with information on their cases. You could depend on him. He’ll truly be missed.&8221;

Jill Melton agreed. As the receptionist for the detective division, Melton said Blackmon &8220;really took me under his wings.&8221;

Blackmon said, &8220;every road has to come to an end.&8221; And he’s at the end of the road with his career in law enforcement. If there were any advice he had for officers entering law enforcement, he said it would be to &8220;put God first.&8221;