By Brady Talbert / Staff Writer

ALABASTER – City officials, citizens and city servants made up the bulk of the company at Champy’s restaurant Tuesday night.

From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. community members watched over the eatery for the third-annual Alabaster police appreciation dinner. The gathering honored police officers for their service to the Alabaster area and was considered successful according to event coordinator Dena Bedsole. “This was our best year yet,” Bedsole said. The event raised $2,000 to pay for police and their family’s meals and gifted $3,000 in cash prizes and giveaways.

Aside from grubbing out, officers also listened to THS choral students and many local musicians like Bruce Andrews, Scott Housey and Lauren “Sassy” Brown, Janelle Frost, Jerry Robbins and Cam Spinks.

According to a January report by the National Council for Home Safety and Security, which considered population, violent crimes and property crimes, Alabaster is the fourth safest city in the state behind Helena, Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook. “Our community really does appreciate the fact that we live in one of the top safest cities in the state of Alabama,” Mayor Marty Handlon said, emphasizing the department’s “hard” and “intentional” work.

With some Americans having a negative perspective on law enforcement, the mayor said, “Chief [Curtis] Rigney has been very intentional about community policing, because Alabaster’s police department has not always had a great image.” She continued by saying the work done by law enforcement was not only about “changing the image of Alabaster’s police department, but also connecting with the community,” such as when officers interact with people and patrol the Propst Promenade during the holidays “to make our citizens feel safe while they shop.”

“I’m really thankful that our police officers believe in relationship building and believe its important in the community,” Handlon said.