SPANISH FORT, Ala.—With a growing city comes the need for an expanding police department, and the city has done just what it needs to balance public safety with an influx of new residents.

Richard “Rick” Chenoweth joined the squad this month as the city’s first investigator.

“It’s quite an honor,” Chenoweth said. “It’s something that will always remain; that I was the first investigator.” Prior to the hire, police Chief David Edgar was  responsible for investigating crime.

Chenoweth worked as a police officer in Mobile for about 22 years and in Prichard for three years before friends mentioned an investigator position available in Spanish Fort.

Chenoweth had helped out Edgar with investigations at the Spanish Fort Police Department for about 12 years before he became a permanent addition.

“We’re very fortunate to have Richard join our team here with his experience,” Mayor Joe Bonner has said.

Chenoweth was given the oath of office at the Oct. 6 City Council meeting.

As the city’s investigator, he will follow up on crimes from the police officers, as well as investigate felony crimes, he said.

“If there’s something I can do and follow up to see who committed the crimes I will,” Chenoweth said. “As an investigator I get a report from the officer and see if something can be done on it, and go from there.”

Chenoweth became interested with police work while he taught martial arts to police officers; and he had friends who worked at the Prichard Police Department. He also taught different techniques that helped officers secure a suspect if they weren’t cooperating with officers.

“Law enforcement officers have rules, the bad guy doesn’t,” Chenoweth said.

He eventually began doing ride-alongs with officers, and his friends talked him into taking the police-acceptance test.

Though he’s forgotten that 25-year-old score, he said he “came out high on the list after the test.”

Chenoweth finished first in Prichard on the exam, seventh in Mobile and 11 or 12 in the county, he said. The exam comprised a written portion and—for those who passed this primer—a physical fitness exam.

The police department will also add five police officers this year. More officers will be added as more apartment complexes open throughout the city, Bonner has said.

After the additions the department expects to have 19 members, according to Bonner.

“We think the addition of these five officers will put us in good standing when they come on,” Bonner has said.