ASHS to reimburse Demopolis for school resource officer as classes are held in Livingston

A Demopolis police officer will be protecting students at the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences as it operates in Livingston for the 2026 school year, the Demopolis City Council voted July 2.

ASHS will operate on the campus of the University of West Alabama in Livingston for the 2026 school year as the new building is being finished near Whitfield Regional Hospital in Demopolis.

According to a memorandum of understanding between the Demopolis City Council, ASHS and UWA, ASHS will reimburse the Demopolis Police Department for a school resource officer. The officer’s salary will be covered by ASHS up to 1,570 hours. ASHS will also reimburse the city for travel from Demopolis to Livingston.

The Demopolis officer will call on UWA campus police or Livingston police officers if an arrest is required, although the Demopolis officer will have authority to make an arrest on his or her own, according to the agreement.

ASHS will begin classes on Aug. 13.

In other business, Demopolis Mayor Woody Collins said he wanted the council to revisit creating a special district for trailers in the city.

The issue of trailers, mobile homes and manufactured housing came before the council in February, and the council placed a six-month moratorium on mobile homes in the city limits. Collins said July 2 that the issue “has fallen by the wayside,” and he wants to place the issue back on the council’s agenda.

The council was told that the city is negotiating with a company to restripe downtown streets.