TPD Announces Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief Promotions

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley on Friday announced the promotions of two high-ranking officers in the department, which comes partly from an initiative by City Hall to bridge gaps between TPD and the community it serves.

Blankley said Captain Steve Rice will serve as assistant chief and Sgt. Severn "Sebo" Sanders will serve as deputy chief of community policing — a new position created through Project Unity and the Chief's Commission for Community Policing.

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TPD said the promotions go into effect at 9:50 p.m. Friday.

Rice fills the position left vacant by Ronnie Dunn, who retired earlier this month after 36 years with the department, making him the longest serving officer at any agency in Tuscaloosa County's history.

The new chiefs will join Blankley and Assistant Chief Mitt Tubbs to serve as the department's highest-ranked leadership staff. Both Rice, 47, and Sanders, 49, joined TPD in 1997, according to the department.

"Together, Chief Rice and Chief Sanders bring years of experience to their new roles," Blankley said. "Both will undoubtedly serve the Tuscaloosa Police Department and the city of Tuscaloosa."

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In his most recent role, Rice served as the captain over TPD's Training and Logistics division. He has also served as the department’s bomb squad commander and Special Response Team leader, helicopter division commander, patrol lieutenant and assistant evening shift commander, training division and patrol sergeant, commander of the Crime Suppression Unit and an investigator in the Criminal Investigations Division.

Sanders was most recently assigned to the department's Traffic Division, working as its first-line supervisor. He has also worked as commander of the department's Crime Suppression Unit, a narcotics agent with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force and a patrol supervisor. Apart from on-the-job work, Sanders currently serves as the president of the local Fraternal Order of Police chapter.

TPD said Rice will work in more of an administrative role, supervising the communications, training, standards and integrity, logistics, police academy, Violent Crimes Unit, municipal security, air patrol, records and code enforcement divisions.

Sanders will coordinate and supervise the department's new and existing community policing programs.

Patch reported earlier this month that the deputy chief position will be the project team leader for the Chief's Commission, while associate city attorney Scott Holmes will be the deputy project team leader.

The 16-person Chief's Commission will make recommendations on recruiting, training and retention and community outreach, with Blankley saying it will be the first item on the agenda for Sanders, who will be tasked getting the group off the ground and overseeing its efforts.

"Making this deputy chief position will give this person authority to assign officers as they see fit to carry out specific tasks for certain events," he said earlier this month.

Blankley said that TPD has had community policing programs over the years through its crime prevention division, but the department never assigned the job to someone with a high rank like deputy chief.

He also praised both of the new chiefs for their leadership qualities as they take on new responsibilities.

"Both Chief Rice and Chief Sanders are strong leaders in the department and community,” Blankley said. “Their ideas and enthusiasm will serve us all well as we develop innovative ways to reduce crime and protect the people of Tuscaloosa.”