Author: Dave Schwab

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CALEA Accreditation Public Comment Portal

If you have comments regarding the Dothan Police Department’s CALEA Accreditation and would like to provide information to CALEA, there is an Accreditation Public Comment Portal located at http://cimrs2.calea.org/857.

The purpose of this public portal is to receive comments regarding an agency’s compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. These comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the participating agency with information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster the pursuit of professional excellence.

IMPORTANT: CALEA is not an investigatory body and subsequently the public portal should not be used to submit information for such purposes. Additionally, there will be no response other than acknowledgement to submissions; however, the information will be considered in context to its relevancy to compliance with standards and the tenets of CALEA® Accreditation.

I appreciate your support for our agency in maintaining the gold standard of professionalism in public safety.

William E. Benny
Chief of Police

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CALEA Accreditation Public Comment Portal

Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Accreditation Public Comment Portal

If you have comments regarding the Dothan Police Department’s CALEA accreditation and would like to provide information to CALEA, there is an Accreditation Public Comment Portal located at https://cimrs2.calea.org/857.

The purpose of the public portal is to receive comments regarding an agency’s compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, deliver of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. These comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the participating agency with information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster the pursuit of professional excellence.

IMPORTANT: CALEA is not an investigatory body and subsequently the public portal should not be used to submit information for such purpose. Additionally, the information will be considered in context to its relevancy to compliance with standards and the tenents of CALEA Accreditation.

William E. Benny
Chief of Police

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Dothan woman charged with child porn and sex crimes

On August 3, 2023, the Dothan Police Department conducted a search warrant at the home of Allenia Crittenden, 35 years old of Dothan. She was subsequently charged with one count of possession of Child Pornography, three counts of Bestiality, and one count of Filing a False Police Report. The investigation was the result of a tip sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Investigators with the Dothan Police Department’s Special Investigation Unit obtained digital evidence that revealed Crittenden was in possession of a video file containing child sexual assault material. Videos depicting Crittenden having sexual conduct with a canine was also recovered. Additional electronic and recording devices were seized from the residence to be analyzed. The canine was recovered in the home.

Dothan Animal Services responded and took possession of the canine. The canine appeared in good health and will remain in protection of the Dothan Animal Services until legal proceedings can be filed.

Crittenden was booked in the Dothan City Jail with a bond totaling $39,000. The investigation is still ongoing.

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Public viewing of active calls for service

The Dothan Police Department has provided public access to our computer aided dispatching information for selected call types of interest to the public. You may view this information and a map showing approximate locations of active calls on our website at the link below.

https://www.dothanpd.org/active-calls

This information allows the public to enjoy greater transparency into the daily operations of the police department as well as other city services.

William E. Benny
Chief of Police

A view inside the Communications Center
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Dothan Man Receives Additional Child Pornography Charges

In December 2022, Dothan Police Department received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip indicated an individual within the city limits of Dothan had disseminated an image using an electronic messaging platform depicting child pornography. As the investigation continued, the account owner of the electronic messaging platform used to disseminate the image was identified.

On March 9, 2023, a search warrant was executed at the residence of the suspect in the 1200 block of Cannon Road. During the execution of the search warrant, several electronic devices were seized as evidence. On that day, 38 year-old Donny Ray Watkins was charged with one count of Dissemination of Obscene Material.

As the investigation continued and investigators gathered additional information, on March 28, 2023, Watkins was arrested and charged with four counts of Possession of Child Pornography. His bond was set at $60,000.

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Shots fired call leads to three arrests

On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at approximately 5:20 p.m., Dothan Communications received a call for gunshots fired in the area of South Alice Street and West Selma Street. Multiple patrol officers were dispatched to the area where they began to canvass the area. Unfortunately, no suspects were located at that time. The Dothan Police Department’s Gun Investigation Unit (GIU) responded and identified a residence in the 1600 block of South Alice Street where a fight had occurred in the yard involving multiple subjects minutes prior to the gunshots fired call.

On Wednesday, March 15, 2023, the Dothan Police Department’s Gun Investigation Unit executed a search warrant in the 1600 block of South Alice Street, where contact was made with Lashawn Shiver and Tracy Porter. During the search Investigators located four (4) handguns, three (3) high-capacity magazines, and ammunition. Investigators also located and seized synthetic marijuana, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. While on scene, Desmond Griffin arrived and began interfering with investigators. After numerous commands to leave the scene, and failing to do so, Griffin was placed under arrest of Obstructing Governmental Operations.

Lashawn Shiver, 43-years-old of Dothan was arrested for active warrants with Houston County Sheriff’s Office to include Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. Mr. Shiver has the charge of Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess a Firearm pending. Tracy Porter, 53-year-old of Dothan was arrested for Possession of Marijuana 2nd Degree, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Obstructing Governmental Operations. Desmond Griffin, 32-years-old of Dothan was charged with Obstructing Governmental Operations. The case is still under investigation and more charges are forthcoming.

The Dothan Police Department fully supports the Second Amendment and the Constitutional Carry Laws of the State of Alabama. However, when a person or people decide to disregard the safety of children across the street, at a school, playground, or any place of recreation we will take every action and use every resource available to us to bring those responsible to justice. The City of Dothan and its Police Department will not sit by and let this type of behavior go unchecked.

William E. Benny
Chief of Police

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Weekend shooting wounds three, one is in custody

On March 4, 2023 the Dothan Police Department responded to reports of an Assault in the 3000 block of Ross Clark Circle. Upon arrival officers found three victims had been shot with a firearm. Investigators responded to the scene and were able to identify the shooter, Antinio Zy’Keith Turner of Dothan. At this time, Turner has been arrested for three counts of Assault I. He is currently being held in the Houston County Jail with no bond. Victims were treated at area hospitals, and their injuries are not life threatening.

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Firearm assault leaves one dead

On Thursday, December 15, 2022, at approximately 6:58 P.M., officers responded to the 1300 block of Alexander Drive to the report of a firearm assault in which one person had been shot. When officers arrived on scene, they confirmed there was in fact one victim that had already been transported to Southeast Health by a personal vehicle. Officers arrived at the hospital and discovered the victim suffered from a single gunshot to the upper torso. The victim was in critical condition and was immediately taken to surgery where he succumbed to his injury. The victim has been identified as 21-year-old Alfonso Morrissette, of Dothan.

On the night prior, Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at approximately 6:15 P.M., two suspects shot at Morrisette at the same location, but he was not hit. Various residences and vehicles were hit during this incident. It has now been determined 20-year-old Zyshawn Codaun Coker and 19-year-old Keith Shukar Helms, both from Dothan, are the two suspects responsible for shooting at Morrissette on Wednesday night.

Zyshawn Coker has been charged with three counts of Shooting into an Occupied Building, one count of Shooting into an Unoccupied Building, one count of Shooting into an Unoccupied Vehicle and one count of Attempted Murder. These charges are in reference to the incident that occurred Wednesday night.

When located, Helms will be charged with the same charges in reference to the incident that occurred Wednesday night.

Thursday night’s incident in which Morrissette died, is still under investigation. The Dothan Police Department asks that anyone who has information related to the death of Morrissette to please call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000. If you would like to provide information in an anonymous capacity, you can call Crime Stoppers at 334-793-7000. The Dothan Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help in an anonymous capacity.

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Oct 5: Coffee with a Cop

Please join us on Wednesday, October 5th, for Coffee-With-A-Cop. We will be at Dakota Coffee Shop Eastside location at 2191 East Main Street from 07:00a.m. until 09:00a.m. This is a great opportunity to meet your local police officers while enjoying a free cup of coffee at this new and wonderful establishment. We look forward to seeing everyone there.

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Update: Arrests Made in Robbery at Dothan Pavilion

On Saturday, September 3, 2022, a juvenile was physically assaulted by a group of other juveniles and had a piece of jewelry stolen during the assault. It was later discovered this incident was recorded and the video was circulating on social media.

Investigators were able to identify all juveniles involved and as a result, six juveniles have been charged with Robbery Second Degree and were turned over to the Southeast Alabama Diversion Center. One additional juvenile, who is not from Dothan, has been identified as well and is currently being sought.

We would like to thank our local community for their assistance in bringing this situation to a successful conclusion.

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