Two Demopolis police officers promoted to sergeant

Two Demopolis police officers have been promoted to sergeant.

Cleshanah Barlow and Allen Dailey were honored in a promotion ceremony on Aug. 11 at Demopolis Police Department headquarters.

Public Safety Director Rex Flowers said the promotions demonstrate “growth for our leadership and a chance to plan for the future of the department by bringing people up through the ranks.”

“We feel like both will be great leaders and are good for the department,” Flowers said. “Sargent is not the end for both of them. They will accelerate in the department.”

Both officers are Demopolis natives, Flowers said. Barlow has been on the force for five years and is one of the first people Flowers hired when he was made police chief. He said he promoted others since becoming chief, but “it’s kind of special because she is the first (officer) I hired that I also promoted.”

This is Dailey’s third time to be promoted to sergeant. Dailey worked his way up to sergeant in the Demopolis Police Department before he retired and joined the Montgomery Police Department. He became a sergeant there before he retired and pursued other career opportunities. He returned to Demopolis Police Department almost two years ago and has again earned the rank of sergeant.

Dailey’s father was in law enforcement, so police work is something close to his heart. “I’ve always been around it,” Dailey said.

Dailey said he is training his replacement as the school resource officer at US Jones and is looking forward to leading a shift and working with the younger officers.