Police departments make adjustments when officers are deployed

NEW ALBANY, Miss. (WCBI) – A police department in our area will soon be without an officer for about a year, as he is deployed with the U.S. Army Reserve.

It is not the first time the small department has had to make accommodations as its officers are called to wear a different uniform, while serving their country.

Things are always busy for New Albany Police Sergeant Joe Keaton.

He and his wife are foster parents, he is a deacon at his church and he also serves as a Platoon Sergeant with the U.S. Army Reserve.

” I just wanted to come in, serve the community and help people,” said Sgt. Keaton.

Next month, Sergeant Keaton will be deployed to Afghanistan. He has been in the Army Reserve for 31 years and has had one prior deployment.

Keaton said being deployed once before makes things a little easier, but he will still miss his family and friends.

“Nothing really different, different site, same job, different site,” said Keaton.

Sergeant Keaton isn’t the only officer on the force to be deployed.

Corporal Stephen Nolen is in the Mississippi National Guard and recently returned from his first deployment as part of a NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.

Corporal Nolen said having a boss who supports servicemembers helped a great deal.

“My job was very easy cause, New Albany Police is very military supportive, had no issues whatsoever with my job, very good leadership here,” said Cpl. Nolen.

Of course when an officer is deployed, crime doesn’t stop and calls for service still must be answered.

So New Albany Police Chief Chris Robertson and the entire force make necessary adjustments.

“Most agencies, me included, we either use reserve officers, or we do a conditional hire type thing. An officer comes in, works for up to a year and then, with understanding when officer who is deployed comes back, he will have to resume his duties,” said Chief Robertson.

Both Keaton and Nolen expressed they take great pride in serving their community and their country.

Chief Robertson has had as many as three officers deployed at one time.