Hoover Police Department

Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis Welcome to Hoover.

To see the official Hoover Police Department website, click on this link – www.hooverpd.com, the official website of the Hoover Police Department. This official website is designed to provide an overview of police personnel and resources used daily in an effort to make Hoover a safe city in which to live, work and visit. This website is just one of the many tools used to help educate our community about the comprehensive police services offered.

At the February 21 Luncheon honoring Hoover's Finest, the Hoover Police Department Color Guard presented the Colors at the start of the Chamber Luncheon. At the presentation, Police Chief Nick Derzis and Fire Chief Tom Bradley led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. This was one of the most solemn and beautiful presentations ever held at a chamber event. This luncheon is one of the largest luncheons held each year, and is expected to be moved to The Wynfrey Hotel in the future years.
Police Office Dale Holsombeck was recognized at the February Luncheon as Officer of the Year for 2007. Shown left to right, City Council President Gary Ivey, Officer Ted Davis, Holsombeck, Police Chief Nick Derzis, Officer Alex Gonzalez, and Council Member Brian Skelton.	Edward Scott of Fire Station 6 was recognized at the February Luncheon as 2007 Firefighter of the Year. Shown left to right, Firefighter Mark Thornton of Station 2, City Council President Gary Ivey, Scott, Fire Chief Tom Bradley, and Firefighter Joey Harbarger of Station 4.
Detention Officer II Jameela Baylor, left, was recognized at the outstanding Jailer of the Year for 2007 by Police Chief Nick Derzis. Baylor is one of some thirty detention officers that work in the Hoover City Jail at the Hoover Public Safety Center.	Tele-communicator I Kim Jones was recognized as the 911 Operator of the Year for 2007 by Police Chief Nick Derzis. Kim is one of some thirty 911 Operators that handle all kinds of emergency calls for the city of Hoover, for both the police and fire departments.

At the February 15, 2007 Chamber Luncheon, the Chamber of Commerce recognized and awarded the Hoover Police Officer of the Year, Hoover Firefighter of the Year, Telecommunicator of the Year and Jailor of the Year for the calendar year 2006. The Hoover Chamber recognized these most outstanding community servants for their on-the-job performance.
The 2006 Police Officer of the Year was recognized at the February 2007 Chamber Luncheon.  Shown above, left to right, then Assistant Police Chief A. C. Roper (named City of Birmingham Police Chief in Fall 2007), Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis, Officer Brian Foreman, 2006 Police Officer of the Year Connery Davis, Officer Dale Harden, Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos, 2007 Chamber President Richard Rayborn.	Left to Rt: Asst. Chief A.C. Roper, Chief Nick Derzis, Michelle Popee, Jailer of the Year Teddy Popee and Mayor Tony Petelos.

From a One-Man Show to a World-Class Fleet
Hoover Police Department Sets a Historical Precedence


"Every citizen of the republic ought to consider himself an unofficial policeman, and keep unsalaried watch and ward over the laws and their execution."
~Mark Twain

With its more than 155 sworn officers, a nationally recognized ethanol vehicle power program and future home to the National Computer Forensics Institute, it’s hard to believe that the Hoover Police Department (HPD) began 40 years ago with just one man, one car and a city of only 406 people.

When Hoover was established in 1967, its first police chief was 65-year-old James Norrell, retired Captain of Detectives for the Birmingham Police Department. He patrolled the new city in one car - a 1968 Ford Galaxy. At that time, the police department functioned out of a small room in the Hoover Fire department; the station bathroom actually served as a holding cell for the occasional inmate prior to being transported to a proper jail cell in nearby Vestavia.

In 1969, Chief Norrell retired and was replaced by Oscar Davis, who continued to serve as Chief of Police for eight years. By the end of Davis’s tenure, the police department was moved from its shared space at the fire station to offices built in the new City Hall.

Over the course of the coming decades, the department would see an increase in the demand for policemen due to the expanding city and its needs. From 406 citizens 40 years ago to an estimated 71,000 at present, the Hoover Police Department has grown dramatically to ensure the ever-growing needs of the people it serves are met.

Currently led by Chief Nick Derzis, the HPD is now one of the most advanced police departments in the nation with many officers trained in special areas of law enforcement such as K-9 operations, special response team tactics, criminal forensics and bomb disposal, among others.

The HPD was one of the first and largest in the nation to operate its vehicles on ethanol, a cleaner alternative fuel. Montgomery has since followed suit, installing a 12,000-gallon ethanol refueling facility for all Alabama’s state motor pools, thus propelling the state’s move to cleaner air and cleaner cities.

In addition, city officials broke ground in March 2007 for the National Computer Forensic Institute (NCFI), which will be seen as the center of all high technology-based law enforcement and crime prevention.  The nation, as well as the world, will look to Hoover to educate and train the next generation of world-class high tech forensic professionals. 

From one man and one car 40 years ago to over 155 men and an entire fleet of environmentally-friendly vehicles in 2007 in an ever expanding city – it’s safe to say those that protect and serve have certainly adapted to Hoover’s changing landscape.