Prichard’s newest top law enforcement officer arrived with four decades of police experience, most recently as the chief of police in Bay Minette. Michael Rowland, 60, a graduate of Vigor High School, took over as the city’s interim police chief, saying he felt a “vested interest” in Prichard and its future.
Rowland assumed the post on Thursday, following the resignation of former Chief Jerry Speziale. He said he was eager to serve, though he was careful not to predict how long the assignment would last.
Day by day
“I will take it day by day,” Rowland said when asked whether he hoped to hold the permanent job or remain in the interim role. “The mayor and I have had many discussions over the last couple of years. We’ll see how that will go. I hope to stay here as long as possible.”
The new chief said he intended to re-evaluate some of the policing methods put in place by his predecessor and to place a stronger emphasis on officer training.
“Training is a major factor, in my belief, to reinforce a Police Department and make it the best it can be,” Rowland said. “A lot of training will go on as I’m interim. I don’t know how long that will be. It’s an interim position and can change at any time. But as interim, I am the chief and will take the administrative role and help make this a better department.”
A search for stability
Both Rowland and Mayor Troy Ephriam said they wanted continuity for a department that had seen little stability in the chief’s role since Ephriam took office in 2012. After an earlier shake-up drew criticism, a blue ribbon committee headed by former Mayor A.J. Cooper was formed to lead a search, and the committee selected Speziale, a former high-ranking administrator with the New Jersey/New York Port Authority, in October 2013.
Speziale, a high-profile figure who had made cameo appearances in several films and drew a television crew to Prichard earlier in the year, departed after a short tenure. Ephriam described the exit as disappointing but said he was not prepared to reconvene the search committee.
“We will give these men and women the opportunity to figure out where we need to go next,” Ephriam said. “I think the men and women of Prichard need to know that public safety hasn’t changed. I think it’s important to remain consistent in the aftermath of what we were facing.”
Although no final salary had been set, Ephriam said Rowland would likely be paid $85,000 a year, similar to what Speziale had earned.
A long career on the coast
Rowland, who said he had retired before coming to Prichard, served as Bay Minette’s police chief from 2005 until November 2012, leaving after a new mayor was elected. He spent much of his earlier career as a member of the Mobile Police Department.
As Prichard’s interim chief, Rowland said he planned to focus on community policing and to move quickly on ideas he wanted to put in place.
“We’ll move very fast,” he said. “I have some ideas I hope to integrate into the Police Department.”