By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Multiple Shelby County cities are mourning the loss of a “genuine” man who led the Alabaster Police Department for many years and helped to shape the law enforcement landscape across the county.

Larry Richard Rollan Sr., 64, died on Dec. 4 after a lengthy battle with cancer, leaving behind a legacy in the Alabaster and Helena police departments.

“He had a passion for law enforcement and for helping kids any chance he got. He donated to a lot of different charities,” said Rollan’s son, Helena Police Department Sgt. Chris Rollan. “He was just a genuine guy who loved police work. He took care of everyone.”

Larry Rollan began working as a patrol officer with the Alabaster Police Department in 1971 before be became a sergeant at the department only a year later. In 1983, he became the department’s chief – a position he held until his retirement in 2001.

After retiring from Alabaster, Larry Rollan was sworn in as a part-time detective with the Helena Police Department, where he served until his death.

Larry Rollan was a lifetime member of the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police and the Shelby County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 41. He also was a master mason in Buck Creek Masonic Lodge 410.

Larry Rollan raised a generation of police officers, including his three sons: Chris Rollan, Helena officer David Rolland and Calera Police Department Sgt. Rick Rollan. He and his brother founded the Helena Police Explorers program in the late 1990s.

“He has been responsible for at least 100 police officers today, that I know of. It may even be higher than that,” Chris Rollan said. “We are going to miss him a lot.”

Sean Boczar, a Helena police officer and member of the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force, also shared fond memories of serving under Larry Rollan.

“I knew he would get on the radio just to keep everybody on their toes. I knew that the deep voice, while intimidating, was the sound of the man who loved his family, loved his officers and loved the job. He was a softy but not many knew,” Boczar wrote in a Dec. 4 Facebook post. “I could go on for hours or days with literally hundreds of stories and memories that Chief and I had but I’ll simply leave it at this: Thanks for everything, Chief. You will be greatly missed and never forgotten.”

In lieu of flowers, Larry Rollan’s family requests all donations be made out to the Helena Police Department Explorers. To donate, contact Capt. James Penhale at 663-6499.