Deep-fried gratitude: APD honored at 10th annual Alabaster Police Appreciation Dinner
Published 5:11 pm Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Members of the Alabaster Police Department were treated to a night of gratitude and service by the Alabaster community during the Alabaster Police Appreciation Dinner on Tuesday, June 10 from 6-8 p.m. (For the Reporter/Jeremy Raines)
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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor
ALABASTER – Cheers echoed throughout the densely-packed Champy’s Famous Fried Chicken restaurant as members of the Alabaster Police Department were called forward one by one to receive free gifts from the community during the 10th annual Alabaster Police Appreciation Dinner.
Members of the Alabaster Police Department were treated to a night of gratitude and service by the Alabaster community and were showered with praise, gifts, prizes, money and free food during the Alabaster Police Appreciation Dinner on Tuesday, June 10 from 6-8 p.m.
“It was wonderful,” said Dena Bedsole who has organized the event each year since its inception. “The event was absolutely amazing. Probably one of the best ones we’ve had.”
Bedsole said that this year’s installment of the dinner was so packed that they had to borrow folding tables and chairs because all of the ones in the restaurant were in use by officers and their families.
“I think that every year I’m learning more and more about how important this event is to our officers,” Bedsole said.
At the start of the event, students and community members gathered together en masse to form an arch over a blue carpet to welcome officers into the restaurant for all of the festivities. Representatives from numerous student organizations were present, including members of the THS baseball team, softball team, football team, volleyball team, mountain bike team and Girl Scout troop.
“I had more people for a tunnel than I’ve ever had before,” Bedsole said.
Every officer that walked into Champy’s was given a gift bag of door prizes with each holding more than $100 worth of gift cards and goodies. Members of the APD were given $5,000-plus in prizes and $11,200 in cash. The organizers called the name of every member of the department present to receive a prize and once everyone received something, they drew for the remainder.
“The officers were screaming and hollering,” Bedsole said. “It was such a fun environment and they were cheering for each other.”
In support of the APD, Champy’s closed its doors to the public for the evening and provided live music and appetizers at no charge to the officers in attendance. Cultivate Church paid the bill to feed every officer at the event which was approximately $2,500—the largest police appreciation dinner yet.
Members of the Alabaster Cadet program were invited to attend the event and eat alongside officers, but the students insisted they serve the officers instead—helping ensure the event ran smoothly.
“I wanted to feed them dinner because that’s our future—the cadet program molds the future of the police department,” Bedsole said. “And those guys refused to sit down and eat because they wanted to work and serve.”
The dinner this year was extra special to Bedsole as she reflected on the past 10 years of organizing this event for local first responders.
“I have been emotional but emotional in a positive way,” Bedsole said. “I definitely had some tears last night… What we gave away was a testament to how much the city of Alabaster and the community of Alabaster truly does love and support the police department.”
The Alabaster Police Appreciation Dinner first began after Bedsole and her husband, Russell, chose to secretly pay for the dinner of the APD 10 years ago. After successfully gathering donations, they decided to turn the charity into an annual gift to Alabaster officers.
“It’s grown and grown every year,” Bedsole said. “Everybody wants to do good and to give and to support the police department. The only thing that I’ve done through this event is create an avenue for people to do that.”
Bedsole shared that her greatest hope is that other cities start to copy Alabaster and host their own events showing appreciation for local law enforcement.
“I want copycat cities,” Bedsole said. “I want to see other cities do the same thing.”
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