West Blocton native awarded Officer of the Year in Baldwin County

By Daniel L. Bamberg

Daniel@Centrevillepress.com

Kenneth Seagle, a native of West Blocton, was recently awarded “Officer of the Year” in Baldwin County. While those who have worked with and who still work with Seagle consider him a strong and conscientious law enforcement officer, his award of “Officer of the Year” is the result of his heart. 

Seagle is a law enforcement officer with the Loxley Police Department. Early last year Officer Seagle answered a “loitering” call from an industrial building owner.  When Seagle arrived on the scene, and after searching the building thoroughly he found a young woman and her 11-year-old child living there.  The woman explained to the officer that she had recently been laid off from her job and was evicted from her home.  Seagle explains it was at this moment he realized how fortunate he was and how tragic this woman’s situation had become, especially considering she had a child to take care of.  He promised her that he would help in any way he could.

The next day he began looking for a low-income place to move the single mother and child into.  “I found out the child was an A student and after the eviction she had begun failing.  The more I found out the more it made we want to do something.”

Within a few days and with the help of the local Police and Fire Departments Seagle had found an affordable home for the woman and her child.  These community servants even helped get her utilities turned on.  At first it appeared for naught.  As soon as these things were accomplished nobody could find the mother or her child.  Seagle however eventually got a call that they had been discovered and wanted to talk to him.  He met up with the mother and child and took them to their new home.  They were obviously emotional and overjoyed.  Seagle explains, “This is when the job is most rewarding.  Part of our duty is to serve, we don’t just arrest people and write tickets.” 

Seagle became a police officer in 1998, when he was hired at the Perry County Sheriff’s Department.  In 1999 he served with the West Blocton Police Department.  He has also served the force in Flomaton.  He came back to West Blocton some years ago and worked parttime with the West Blocton Police Department and fulltime at BF Goodrich.  A few years ago he moved to Loxley, Alabama to be closer to his son.

While he misses his hometown, Seagle explains that Loxley is the perfect fit for him.  “It is a small town not much bigger than Centreville, which is nice.  For a cop we have a lot of heavy traffic on Highway 59 – or Gulf Shores Parkway.  So we deal with a different element there.  It is a good balance,” explains Seagle. 

The West Blocton native certainly has come a long way as he recalls, “I went to the Academy with Woodstock Police Chief Lenn Price, know Sheriff Hannah and Chief Deputy Weems well, and I’ve had my butt chewed out plenty of times by Chief Mike Nichols.”  Now those members of local law enforcement can gleam, as one of their own is honored miles from home for his heart , courage and compassion.