Command and Staff Program

ACE Approved for 6 Hrs. of Graduate Level College Transfer

Session #37 – Command & Staff Leadership Orange Beach PD & Baldwin County Sheriff, AL 

Sgt. Charles “Chuck” Sutherlin, Foley PD, AL ~ [email protected] ~ 251-424-0451

Charles “Chuck” Sutherlin is a Sergeant with the City of Foley Police Department in Baldwin County, Alabama, with over 30 years of dedicated law enforcement service. His law enforcement career began with seven years in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer and Investigator, earning the rank of Sergeant. During his military service, he deployed in support of Operation Joint Endeavor in the former Yugoslavia while serving in Hanau, Germany. He later served at the United States Military Academy at West Point as a Military Police Investigator and Commander of the Post Color Guard. Sergeant Sutherlin concluded his military service at Ft. Rucker, Alabama, as a Patrol Supervisor and Senior Desk Sergeant. For his distinguished service, he was awarded several Army Achievement Medals and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Following an honorable discharge in 2001, Sergeant Sutherlin joined the Foley Police Department. Throughout his tenure, he has held numerous leadership roles, including Special Response Team Leader, Honor Guard Commander, and supervisor of the Criminal Intelligence and Criminal Investigations Units. He currently leads the agency’s Administrative Unit, focusing on sex offender compliance, warrant service, and support services.

Sergeant Sutherlin is an accomplished instructor in disciplines such as Bike Patrol, Less Lethal System, Tactical Operations, and Active Threat Response. He is also notably proficient in street-level enforcement for which he has earned numerous awards for Major Felony Arrests and Exceptional Service, as well as the department’s Bravery citation.

Beyond his operational roles, Sergeant Sutherlin is deeply committed to mental health advocacy, a passion developed through his long-term work with the Special Olympics. In 2014, he was selected for a regional mental health project and was instrumental in developing and managing Foley’s Mental Health Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), the first of its kind in Baldwin County. In 2022, he became a Certified Peer Support Specialist and currently serves as his agency’s Peer Support Team Leader.

Lt. Jeremy Mote, Orange Beach PD, AL ~ [email protected] ~ 678-973-5924

For well over two decades, Jeremy Mote has built a distinguished career defined by an unwavering commitment to public safety. His professional life has been a relentless pursuit of growth and leadership—an odyssey of service that began in 2002. Starting as a dispatcher and corrections officer, he embarked on a journey of exceptional ascent, approaching every new role in law enforcement as a distinct opportunity to gain experience and hone his skills.

Sgt. Mote’s operational expertise is both broad and deep, a versatility best seen in his tenures with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office and, more recently, the Orange Beach Police Department. These roles came with crucial responsibilities that directly shaped his leadership and tactical acumen. He is also uniquely positioned to guide the next generation. As a certified instructor for both the Georgia Public Safety Training Center and Guild Solutions Group, his passion for specialized instruction is clear.

His work with the SWAT team was a defining chapter. As an operator, he took on the immense responsibilities of Team Commander, Team Leader, and Sniper, leading in situations that demand not just physical endurance but also unwavering mental fortitude. He has always recognized that success in these high-stakes environments is never a matter of individual effort; it is a testament to collective training, discipline, and the absolute trust teammates place in one another. He considers it a privilege to contribute to a unit where calm professionalism is the standard, ensuring its members are always prepared for immense pressure.

Formal recognition has been abundant. For his outstanding service, Sgt. Mote has earned prestigious awards with the Orange Beach Police Department, including Officer of the Quarter, Officer of the Year, and a Life Saving Award—honors that reflect a career of consistent excellence.

With a history defined by both experience and innovation, his diverse background embodies a commitment to progressive leadership. Sgt. Mote’s trajectory is clear: a future dedicated not only to gaining greater knowledge across all areas of law enforcement but also to sharing that expertise to help other officers develop.

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”  ~Sun Tzu~

Sgt. Tommie Perdue, Foley PD, AL ~ [email protected] ~ 251.424.0634

I began my law enforcement career in 2013 with the Foley Police Department, starting in the Communications Division as a dispatcher before advancing to the Corrections Division as a jailer. I graduated from the police academy in December 2014 and subsequently gained experience across multiple divisions, including Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and Community Safety.

I am currently assigned as a Sergeant over the Narcotics and Intelligence Unit, where I oversee investigations and intelligence operations related to drug enforcement and organized criminal activity. In addition to my supervisory responsibilities, I also serve as one of the department’s certified polygraph examiners.

Lt. Keven Lonsdale, Orange Beach PD, AL ~ 251-597-2112

I started my law enforcement career with the Montgomery, Alabama Police Department in June 1987. Over the course of my twenty-five year career with MPD I served a field training officer, undercover narcotics investigator, and assistant SWAT Team commander. I attained the rank of Lieutenant and when I retired in December of 2012, I was a patrol shift commander and the senior lieutenant in the department. I joined the Orange Beach, Alabama Police Department in January 2013. While with Orange Beach Police Department I was a patrol officer and field training officer, narcotics sergeant, patrol sergeant. I was promoted to Lieutenant in June of 2020 and assigned as the patrol division commander and served in that capacity until August of 2024 when I became the intelligence unit commander, where I am currently serving.

Over the course of my thirty-nine year career with the Montgomery Police Department and the Orange Beach Police Department I have continued to progress into more responsible leadership positions that have enabled the growth and maturity of my leadership knowledge, skills, and abilities. I believe that subordinate officers and supervisors perform better when they have a clear understanding of what is expected of them, not only in their jobs but in their personal lives as well. I believe that proper discipline is achieved through a combination of positive reinforcement at all times and negative reinforcement when necessary.

Lt. Bruce Thrift, Orange Beach PD, AL ~ [email protected] ~ 251-597-0915

Bruce Thrift serves as a Lieutenant with the Orange Beach Police Department. A beautiful city in lower Alabama that borders Pensacola, Florida and the Gulf Coast. His law enforcement career started 30 years ago in Foley, Alabama where he began as a dispatcher at 30 years old soon transitioning into patrol where he stayed for the next 9 years. He recalls performing every task at the department from being an intake officer, jailer, warrant server, animal control, FTO, SRO, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and Patrol Corporal. In those years officers performed all the tasks including drug buys and house raids. He still tells people those were some of the most exciting times of his life.
In 2006, Bruce felt God calling him to the Orange Beach Police Department. He spent most of the next 20 years in patrol excluding a 3 year assignment to the Intelligence division as a Sergeant. Currently he is a newly promoted Lieutenant overseeing Corrections, Communications, and the Support Services divisions while also helping procurement and any other task the department needs.
Coming into law enforcement late in life; his personal life is a surprise to the brothers and sisters he meets in his profession. He was born into a military family (Navy) and lived in 7 different southeastern cities in his first 12 years of life. He graduated from Foley High School and joined the active duty Army in 1985. He was stationed in Washington D.C. and joyfully served in the intelligence unit of the Army Material Command. After leaving the Army he joined the Air Force Reserves and attended Auburn University where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. During college he met and married his current wife of 36 years, Kathy. They have six children together and by the grace of God have stayed a family through it all. Before Law Enforcement he worked fastfood, retail, and construction (an electrician). He has a deep love for blue collar workers, families, children, and Jesus Christ. He believes you can learn something new every day and strives to better himself through knowledge and experiences. His motto is to love and serve others and he knows in the end people will remember you for how you made them feel.

Lt. David Hall, Fairhope PD, AL ~ [email protected] ~ 251-979-0953

With 29 years of law enforcement experience, I began my career with the Foley Police Department, where I served for seven years in the Patrol Division Field Training Officer, and later promoted to K9 Officer.

I then joined the Fairhope Police Department, continuing my work as K9 Officer and earning promotion to Corporal. During my tenure, I was assigned to the Narcotics Task Force, where I investigated violent felony cases and worked in a specialized enforcement capacity. After several years, I returned to the Patrol Division while also serving as a member of the SWAT team.

I was subsequently promoted to Sergeant over the investigations division, where I led the unit for two years. Following that assignment, I was promoted to Lieutenant, where I have served for the past four years overseeing the Patrol Division, acting as SWAT team Commander, and supervising the departments training Division.

I am married to my wife, Caroline, of 29 years, and together we have three children-two sons and one daughter. Hunter, Jacob, and Abri.

Sgt. Curtis Ricks, Foley PD, AL ~ [email protected] ~ 251-424-0104

I have been with Foley Police Department for 16 years. The entirety of this time has been in the patrol division. I have served as a SWAT team member, K9 handler, Field Training Officer, Corporal and was recently promoted to Sergeant where I run one of our four patrol shifts.

Sgt. John “Drew” Schaff, Foley PD, AL ~ [email protected] ~ 251-424-0003

My full name is John Andrew Schaff Jr, I prefer to be called Drew. I was born and raised in Elberta, Alabama. Elberta is a small farming town so I grew up in a rural setting. Elberta at the time did not have its own High School so I attended Foley High School and graduated from there in 2007. Once I graduated High School I moved to Mobile, Alabama. There I attended South Alabama University. I graduated South Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 2011.
I started my career in law enforcement in the spring of 2012 when I was hired by the City of Mobile as a police officer. Once hired I began attending the Mobile Police Academy and graduated in October of 2012. I worked for the City of Mobile as a patrol officer and then was transferred to their SWAT team in 2013. I worked on Mobile Police Department’s SWAT team from 2013 until I got hired by Foley Police Department in May of 2015. While employed with Foley I have worked as a Patrol Officer, Narcotics Detective, Juvenile and Sex Crimes Detective, Patrol Corporal, Patrol Sergeant and my current position is working as a Sergeant in our Intel Unit. I have been employed now for around eleven years and am still going strong. I take a lot of pride in our department and look at my coworkers as a second family.
My personal life is very family oriented. My wonderful wife Melanie Schaff has given me two amazing boys named Felix and Fynn. They are ten and seven years old and keep us very busy. When not working or having family time I do Jujitsu and CrossFit. I am very competitive in both and recommend those hobbies to anyone that is in law enforcement. I am excited to be attending Command College and look towards learning values that will help develop me into being a stronger leader.

Lt. Geoffrey Yeager, Opelika PD, AL ~ [email protected] ~ 334-444-0604

My name is Geoff Yeager. I currently serve as the Training Coordinator at the Opelika Police Department. I started my career at the Lanett Police Department in July of 2007 and came to Opelika In January of 2010. I’m the 3rd generation of law enforcement in my family. My oldest daughter, Hannah, recently took up the family business, becoming the 4th. During my tenure at OPD, I have worked as a patrolman, detective, patrol sergeant, training sergeant, and, now, in my current job as the training lieutenant.

My current role includes the supervision of our training unit, rangemaster, and department armorer. We recruit, hire, and train new employees while completing annual training for all officers in the department. We develop curriculum and teach classes regularly to meet the needs of our department and satisfy APOST training requirements. Lately, I have been completing the use of force reviews and investigations for OPD. This gives me a first-hand look at what training we should incorporate in our department.

I enjoy training and teaching classes on a variety of subject matter, but most of what I instruct is firearms and use of force. I also enjoy being an adjunct instructor at the Northeast Alabama Law Enforcement Academy, where I teach firearms and use of force as well.

Outside of work, I’m a family man who enjoys spending time with my daughters, Kenly and Hannah, and my wife, Jessica. My family runs a small business, and I coach a travel softball team.