Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill
Jared Hall always knew he wanted a career in law enforcement, inspired by his father who served as police chief in Fayette and Cordova while Jared was growing up. In 2004, at just 19 years old, Jared began his journey as a jailer and dispatcher at the Fayette County Jail.
The following year, Jared enrolled in the police academy and subsequently attended the reserve academy, achieving certification in 2006. Over the ensuing nine years, Jared’s career saw him take on roles at the Alabama Department of Mental Health at the Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility, the Brilliant Police Department in Marion County, and the police departments of Cordova and Dora.
During this period, Jared built an extensive background in investigations. He became a certified criminal investigator, a certified narcotics investigator, and a certified evidence technician. “I’ve investigated just about any crime you can think of. For the majority of my career, I’ve focused on drug investigations because most crimes are rooted in drugs,” Jared explains.
In July 2015, Jared assumed the role of Chief of the Dora Police Department. Since then, he has earned his Law Enforcement Executive Certification, joined the Walker County Drug Task Force, and qualified as a driving instructor through the National Safety Council. Since Dora has a smaller police department, Jared’s daily responsibilities are diverse, spanning patrol, administrative tasks, and leading major investigations.
Despite the challenges his duties sometimes present, Jared reflects on the positive impact he and his team have made in the community. He is keen on maintaining transparency about the difficulties police officers face.
“Law enforcement officers are human just like everyone else, and I wish people would give law enforcement a better understanding before they criticize. My door is always open, and I encourage civilians to come to me with questions and concerns to better understand how our police force works,” Jared says. “Making a difference through drug investigations has been the best part of my job, especially when I can help someone realize they have better potential than being involved in drugs. It makes me happy when I can change the course of someone’s life for the better.”
Now approaching his tenth year as Dora’s Police Chief, Jared has realized his ambitions, continued his father’s legacy, and built a career of which he can be proud. WL
