Hamilton Police Department

HAMILTON — Current Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy and former Hamilton Police Officer Jordan Carter will be the new Hamilton Police Chief after the retirement of Chief Ronny Vickery.
Vickery, who announced his retirement last month, will work alongside Carter from June 1 until he officially retires on June 30.
Vickery, who hired Carter at the Hamilton PD, stated he is confident of Carter’s ability to lead the department.

HAMILTON — The City of Hamilton is on the search for a new police chief after longtime law enforcer Ronny Vickery announced his retirement scheduled for the end of June.
Vickery has served as the Hamilton Police Chief for the past 10 years.
“With regrets, we’re going to be losing Ronny. I hate to see (him) go. He’s been a great chief for the City of Hamilton for a number of years now,” said Mayor Bob Page.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON  — Human remains found in Hamilton in January have finally been identified as Justin Kyle Lovett, who was reported missing back in April of 2022.
Lovett’s remains were found on Jan. 7 in Hamilton.
According to Hamilton Police Sergeant Scotty Chandler, the remains were identified by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences through dental records.
Chandler stated the Hamilton Police Department is in close contact with the family of Lovett.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Human remains were found on the west side of Hamilton this weekend after a resident was outdoors with their dog.
According to Hamilton Police Sergeant Scotty Chandler, the resident was chasing her escaped dog when the remains were discovered near the 600 block of Bexar Avenue West in Hamilton.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — A three pickup truck car wreck caused one individual to be air lifted to Tupelo, Miss. on the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 23, in Hamilton.
According to Hamilton Police Officer Tyler Norton, near Bexar Avenue West and Chestnut Circle, a pickup truck came to a sudden stop, causing the truck behind him to come to a stop. Norton stated the third truck involved saw the two trucks too late and was unable to avoid the collision that ensued.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — On Friday, August 26, Christopher Andrew Cochran appeared before 25th Circuit Judge Daryl Burt and entered a plea of guilty to the charge of manslaughter in connection with the Christmas Day 2018 shooting that took the life of Lorenzo Jose "Joe" Garcia.
Cochran, who was 29 at the time of the shooting, allegedly shot and killed Garcia, 48, on  Christmas day during a child custody exchange at the Hamilton Police Department.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON —Hamilton resident James Ray McCracken was arrested on suspected murder in the first degree charges this weekend on Saturday, July 23, in Hamilton.
The Hamilton Police Department, along with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, made the arrest on the day of the incident.
McCracken, 77, born in November of 1944, is currently being held in the Marion County Jail in Hamilton on a $500,000 bond.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The Marion County Sheriff’s Department made a big drug arrest involving two and a half pounds of marijuana and a runaway juvenile on Saturday, March 5, near exit 16 on Interstate 22 in Hamilton.
A sheriff’s deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s department was working speed enforcement on I-22 and attempted a traffic stop near mile marker 16 on a black Dodge Charger traveling near speeds of 100 miles per hour.

HAMILTON – Travis Trotter of Red Bay has been hired with the Hamilton Police Department.
Hamilton Mayor Bob Page announced the hiring during a Hamilton City Council meeting on Monday, Dec. 16, noting Trotter already possesses an Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training  (APOST) certificate.
Hamilton City Clerk Angela Owen told the council Trotter was currently employed with the Red Bay Police Department.
The council unanimously agreed to pay Trotter $16.38 per hour.

HAMILTON - A Hamilton man is being charged with two counts of first-degree rape for allegedly performing sex acts on his girlfriend while she was incapacitated on drugs. Adam Blake Kivette, 33, Hamilton, is being held at the Marion County Jail in Hamilton on a $400,000 bond for the rape of a 35-year-old Hamilton woman. Hamilton Police Department Investigator Scotty Chandler told the Journal Record Kivette was charged with both counts of rape on Nov. 6. Kivette was already in custody at the jail for unrelated misdemeanors.