Daphne Police Department Honors Retiring Officer Houston Sanders

The Daphne Police Department is celebrating the retirement of Officer Houston Sanders, closing out a law enforcement career that spans more than two decades and includes service in nearly every major assignment the department offers.

Sanders’ path to policing began with a stint in the United States Air Force, where he served from 1986 to 1993 and left the military as a Sergeant. He carried that discipline into civilian law enforcement in 1999, when he began his career with the City of Mobile. During his time there, he was recognized with the Commanders Citation in November 2020, one of the department’s honors for meritorious service.

In June 2004, Sanders joined the Daphne Police Department as a patrol officer, beginning a 22-year career with the department that took him through patrol, investigations, tactical operations and specialized enforcement work.

A Career Across Multiple Divisions

As a patrol officer, Sanders quickly distinguished himself, earning recognition for the most felony arrests in both 2005 and 2006, and for the most misdemeanor arrests in 2012. His effectiveness on patrol translated into a long run as a Field Training Officer, a role he held from 2006 through 2026, mentoring new officers as they came up through the ranks.

During that same period, Sanders also served as a member of the department’s SWAT team from 2006 to 2009, taking on some of the department’s most demanding tactical assignments. He later moved into investigative work, serving as a Detective from 2016 to 2018 before being assigned as the department’s Warrants and SORNA (Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act) officer in 2018, a role focused on tracking outstanding warrants and ensuring compliance with sex offender registration requirements.

Sanders returned to patrol duties in 2021 before finishing his career as a member of the Daphne Police Department’s Special Assignments Unit, once again serving as the Warrants and SORNA officer.

Recognition for Service

Over the course of his career with Daphne, Sanders was named Officer of the Quarter three times, in 2011, 2022 and 2026, and received the department’s Life Saving Award in 2022.

The Daphne Police Department thanked Sanders for his years of dedication and service to the city as he transitions into retirement, closing a chapter that began nearly four decades ago with his enlistment in the Air Force and carried through more than 25 years in law enforcement, including 22 with the City of Daphne.

About SORNA

The federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act was enacted in 2006 as Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. Alabama’s own registration requirements are set out in the Alabama Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Act of 2011, which local police and sheriff’s offices enforce by verifying registrants’ addresses and pursuing those who fail to comply.