Jim Peterson retires as Guntersville Chief of Police
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Jim Peterson spent his entire life as a law enforcer in his hometown of Guntersville.
After three decades as a loyal servant, Peterson announced that he’s hanging up his badge. He served seventeen of those years as chief of police.
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“I am 4th generation and I’m raising 5th generation in one city in the south. My great-great granddaddy came there when there was no lake in Guntersville. It was all beans and cotton,” said Peterson.
Peterson has seen the evolution of the city since he returned home after serving in the United States military in 1992.
“The city’s growth has actually accelerated over the last 10 years,” said Peterson.
As a patrolman, state trooper, and city councilman, before being named as police chief in 2006.
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On January 22, Chief Peterson announced that it was time to retire at the city council meeting.
“A lot of guys would say there’s no way I would be police chief in my hometown and that could go one or two ways. It has been nothing but a good thing for me and a blessing because of the personal value I take in the city and where it’s come from and what we do and who we are, ” said Peterson.
Peterson says his most challenging time as chief was in 2018. His department played a key role in the capture of Jimmy Spencer, who’s now on death row after brutally murdering two women and a child.
“I can reasonably sit here and talk to you about a cold case right now and I had that fear that Friday night,” said Peterson. “We didn’t have a clue of who this guy is, and I didn’t know how we were going to figure it out, but we did.”
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Peterson is proud that the department will be left in good hands.
“They are well-trained, and I believe they are dedicated to what they do as a servant. That’s the culture that we have, and we’ve had. I don’t see that changing,” Peterson said.
Guntersville mayor Leigh Dollar announced that Sergeant Ryan Darnell will serve as interim chief until a permanent replacement is found.
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