CULLMAN, Ala. – Since being named Cullman police chief by the Cullman City Council on Dec. 5, 2022, David Nassetta has settled into his new position with ease. Nassetta said he is very thankful for the support of Mayor Woody Jacobs and the members of the city council.
The chief said he is very excited about new hires and the reorganization of the Cullman Police Department. He explained that with Cullman growing, along with the increased number of events, it has left the department short staffed; he is looking to increase the number of officers on patrol.
“We typically have five to six patrol officers on shift. I am trying to raise that number to eight or nine officers per shift, ”said Nassetta, who said the increase would mean better coverage of the city. It will also allow the department to cover local events without having to pay officers overtime, he said. Nassetta hopes to achieve this goal by not filling newly vacant supervisor positions, but instead using more officers on patrol shifts.
When asked about the department’s policy regarding “hot pursuits,” Nassetta said that while the CPD does not have a blanket policy, pursuits are regulated by supervisors. A supervisor monitors all pursuits closely and will terminate a pursuit based on certain factors, including whether that pursuit is a danger to the public (speed, time of day, traffic, etc.) or the officer. He said that because pursuits can be extremely dangerous, the CPD tries to avoid them whenever possible.
Nassetta shared that the department will continue to work with the Cullman County District Attorney’s Office and new DA Champ Crocker. The DA’s Office provides case law classes for officers, and Nassetta said Crocker has helped organize one- to two-hour sessions to ensure officers are well educated on various topics.
The chief also said he wants to be more present in the community and would be happy to speak at more events. He extended an open invitation to any organization in Cullman that would like for him to speak, saying, “It would be a good way for me to get to know the community and for me to get to know them. If you would like to have me come to your organization and have a private audience, I would love to do that.”
If your organization would like to invite Chief Nassetta to speak, call 256-775-7160 during regular office hours, 256-734-1434 after hours or on weekends or email dnassetta@cullmanal.gov.
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