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After completing “Fragments Observed: Life During Mobile’s Progressive Era” last month, I’m pleased to announce a new blog series that will hopefully take us through the end of the year. New articles in “Fragments Observed: Riding with the Mobile Police Department” will post the third week each month.

In keeping with the tone of the first “Fragments Observed” series, these new articles will highlight my 2025 ride alongs with the Mobile Police Department. They are not meant as comprehensive recounts. Rather, the monthly posts will give a glimpse into the daily patrols of MPD officers across the city. I’ll share a bit about the calls we went on, the interactions of the officers, the rigors of the twelve-hour shift, and several photographs from the patrol.

On the surface, this seems a bit different than my historic focus, but much of what police officers deal with today are situations that have plagued society for decades. My research into the Mobile Police Department while writing Loyalty and Betrayal (books 3-4 of Washington Square Secrets) consisted not only of archive browsing and fact checking from the 1920s, but also modern practices of MPD. In July 2024, I graduated from the Mobile Citizens Police Academy, a ten-week course that gives an overview of the whole department including specialized units and some hands-on demonstrations. Since then, as a member of the MCPA Alumni Association, I’ve regularly volunteered at many MPD events and continued participating in ride alongs that began while I was in the academy. Seeing where the police department stands today helps me better relate things from the past for modern readers. I look forward to sharing these new adventures with you.

My continued appreciation goes out to Captain Billie L. Rowland, current MPD historian and author of Unbroken Service: A History of the Mobile Police Department, for his assistance with both historic MPD research and modern information. And to the whole Mobile Police Department for their unselfish service to the community. May these articles shed light on your dedication in the weeks ahead.

Fragments Observed:

Riding with the Mobile Police Department, Part 1

On the evening before Easter in April 2025, I reported to Precinct 4 in northwest Mobile for roll call with the nightshift squad. The officers bantered with each other before the official start. There was a slight buzz of dread because of potential issues that come with a holiday weekend, but I think it was from the seasoned officers psyching out the trainees.

I was assigned to Officer Wells, who I rode with once in 2024, so no potentially awkward introductions were needed. We were soon in her Tahoe and ready to patrol.

Sometimes officers have a call waiting for them as soon as they sign in with dispatch. Other days it takes a bit for a call to be assigned so the officers typically patrol their beat until one comes in. That evening, it took ten minutes for Officer Wells to get a call from dispatch. The assignment took her away from her beat, which we had just reached when the assignment to check on a vacant home for possible vagrants came through. Most activity—particularly on nightshift—requires a backing unit. Waiting for backup, especially if a squad is short-staffed, can sometimes take a while. Fortunately, backup that evening arrived at the southern edge of the precinct a few minutes after us. The house was checked and secured without issue.

Once back in her beat, Officer Wells had the first of several juvenile disturbance calls for the night, which is typical for the start of school holidays and it was the first weekend of Spring Break. A concerned neighbor over possible underage drinking, plus others disturbed by teens kicking the doors to their apartments, or loud parties on the block telephoned the police throughout the shift. Those calls came in from before twilight until after midnight from areas in Spring Hill to Schillinger Road—and those were just the ones referred to Officer Wells to answer.

A lot of times when people think of the police, their minds immediately go to traffic tickets, which might be the first time someone has direct contact with an officer. The only traffic violation of the shift was served just after nightfall—an obvious speeder on Grelot Road.

There were a couple building alarms: one commercial building at eight and then a residential after five in the morning that required Officers Wells (and a backing unit) to check the premises of each. It’s a common occurrence—at least one per shift I’ve ridden with and none of those I’ve seen have been legitimate. (MPD even has a page dedicated to False Alarms–and the fines associated with them.) The same goes for 9-1-1 hang ups. There’s typically one of those as well—day or night. And again, none have been from a person in peril from what I’ve witnessed. But the alarms and emergency hang ups must be responded to. “Better safe than sorry.”

Traffic accidents are another constant for patrol officers. There were two traffic accident-related calls Officers Wells was sent on that night. One on University Blvd not long after dark, and another after one-thirty in the morning. The latter took place on private property (an apartment complex parking lot), but the drivers were arguing, so the officers were there to keep the peace rather than compile accident reports.

Officer Wells had her first “break” (eating while doing paperwork from previous calls) after five hours of work. It lasted about fifteen minutes, then it was off to check on a senior citizen who reported that someone was trying to get in her front door.

Juvenile disturbances, property checks, traffic incidents, and more. Mobile Police Department officers need to be able to switch emotional and physical gears to meet the ever-changing demands of the public they are called to assist. One of my favorite things to watch is how an officer’s mannerisms subtly change to best relate to and respect the people they are interacting with. Details like that help me write authentic MPD characters in my fiction.