Addison hires its first ever female police officer

ADDISON - History has been made in the Town of Addison with the hiring of the first female police officer, who will work as a resource officer at Addison schools, as well as on patrol when school is not in session.

Ava Jo Talley--who was unanimously hired by the Addison Town Council as the town’s first female school resource officer and police officer at the council’s May meeting--began her career officially after her swearing-in ceremony conducted at the Monday, June 2, meeting.

Talley was hired effective June 1, at $18 per hour, with a six-month probationary period, according to town clerk Cindy Luker, adding that Talley will begin the law enforcement academy in August.

Luker conducted Talley’s swearing-in before several of Talley’s family members, who attended the event at the Addison Municipal Building, who resoundingly applauded Talley once she was sworn in.

Addison Mayor Marsha Pigg noted she was glad to be a part of history for the town once again.

“We have made history tonight because she is the first female officer for the town of Addison,” Pigg said.

“We both made history. I was the first female mayor,” Pigg added.

“I think she is going to do a good job,” Pigg added. “I think she will fit right in because she has worked at the bank and everybody already knows her.”

Talley stated her desire to be in law enforcement dates back to when she was watching police shows on TV at a young age with her pawpaw.

“That’s where it started,” Talley said. “I’ve always loved it, have always been interested in it.”
A graduate of West Point High School in Cullman County, Talley and her husband, Destin, have lived the past year in Addison, where she has been employed at Premier Bank.

Now that Ava has been hired and officially sworn into office, she is riding with Addison Police on calls and will begin the law enforcement academy in August for training to be completed in November, stated Police Chief Mitchell Woodard.

The chief stated that Ava “had a good head on her shoulders,” being chosen from at least three applicants for the school resource officer position.

Ava will replace Tim Williams, who resigned as Addison school resource officer to take a job in law enforcement in Moulton earlier this year.

“I think it will be a good fit for the school,” Woodard stated. “That is what I told the council when I approached them about it.

“A lot of times (school students) wouldn’t talk to a male officer, where they will a female officer,” Woodard pointed out. “A lot of young girls at the elementary will get a kick out of having a female police officer there.

“She will be riding with us, learning the roads,” continued Woodard. However, Ava will not become school resource officer until after her graduation from the academy in November, he noted.

Scott Flynn, who has been transferred from Addison Elementary principal to Addison High School principal by the Winston County Board of Education, is excited to have Ava on board as the school’s new resource officer.

“She comes highly recommended from other officers in our police force,” Flynn said. “She will be a police officer, just like all of the other police officers here in our police force, but she is going to be primarily focused during the school day on assisting us here in the school.

“I think she will do a good job. She is a hard worker,” Flynn added. “I only hear good things about her and my interactions with her have been good.

“I think it is going to be a benefit for us, for our students, to see a female police officer here,” Flynn continued. “She can handle things that males can’t necessarily handle when it comes to dealing with females.”

Woodard admitted he has already told Ava that she must prepare for ridicule, being a woman in law enforcement.

“People are going to say something about her size. She is small,” Woodard noted. “She will just have to take it with a grain of salt, like I?told her today. Stand up for yourself.
“I have already told her about all of the bad calls she is going to go on,” Woodard continued. “She will be a full-fledged officer, no matter what.  She will have one of us close by to back her up if she needs it.”

After November, Ava will be working as a school resource officer at Addison Schools and will attend SRO training next year as well, Woodard said. When school is out, Ava will work patrol, he noted.

Once Ava graduates from the academy, she will be APOST certified and also be able to respond solo to calls, Woodard stated.

"I am nervous, but I am excited,” Ava said. “It’s a good nervous. It’s something that I have always wanted and it’s finally here.”

To combat her nervousness, Ava is relying on her faith that God will be with her and help her in his major transition in her life.

“Above all else, always keep God number one and He’ll never fail you,” Ava pointed out.

“Always be careful, be honest,” Ava said. “I want everybody to know that I love this community and I want to make it safer.  I want everybody to know if they have a problem, they can come to me and not feel nervous and not feel they cannot talk to me.

“I want everybody to know they can talk to me.   I am always here for them,” she emphasized.

Now that Ava will be school resource officer, she noted, “I have always had a love for people and especially kids, so this is kind of the best of both worlds.”