City News

We want to wish a happy retirement to Tuscaloosa Police Assistant Chief Ronnie Dunn! When he retires on Sept. 3, Chief Dunn will be the longest-serving law enforcement officer in the county.

Chief Dunn was hired Oct. 13, 1984. That was the same week President Ronald Reagan stopped in Tuscaloosa for a campaign speech and a Big Mac, and when a young kicker named Van Tiffin made the New York Times for pulling an unranked Crimson Tide football team ahead of Penn State, giving hope to fans still mourning the death of Bear Bryant less than a year before. 

Chief Dunn served the City of Tuscaloosa with honor and integrity during his 36-year career, and says that he enjoyed every day he came to work at TPD. He helped the department through good times and difficult ones, and has been an outstanding example for the hundreds of officers who have served over nearly four decades. 

After working patrol for two years, Dunn moved to the traffic enforcement division in 1986 and the training division in 1990. He became a sergeant in the Criminal Investigations Division in 1993 and a lieutenant over the evening shift in 1995. He transferred to Internal Affairs in 1997 and was named Captain in 1998. Dunn was promoted to assistant chief on April 19, 2003. 

Part of Dunn’s responsibilities in Internal Affairs and as assistant chief included carefully reviewing recruit qualifications and performance assessments. He’s directly responsible for building the amazing force of professional, well-trained and dedicated officers that will serve as his legacy for years to come.

Chief Dunn is a true public servant, and we sincerely appreciate his long-term commitment to the police department and the entire Tuscaloosa community. Join us in wishing Chief Dunn and his wife Jan well as he goes 10-42 for the last time! Stay tuned for an announcement with the time and location of his retirement celebration.