Thompson takes over as chief
At a young age Chance Thompson said he wanted to do something in his life to help other people. That journey has taken him from an emergency medical technician to volunteer fireman and police officer. Officially at 12 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, Thompson became Flomaton's new police chief.
The Flomaton Town Council voted Sept. 25 to name Thompson as the new chief following the resignation of Chief Bryan Davis, who accepted a new job.
At the age of 25, Thompson is the youngest police chief ever hired in Flomaton, but he said he's ready for the challenge and the job.
"I'm excited," Thompson said. "Bryan left the department in a great position for me. We will continue to be proactive and move forward to better protect the community the best we can."
Thompson said, like Davis, he will have an open-door policy and wants the community to come to him or the department when they have issues.
"This is my home," Thompson said of Flomaton. "It's been my home since the third grade."
Thompson came to Flomaton in the third grade, transferring from Brewton Elementary School, and graduated from Flomaton High School in 2013.
He began his career in emergency medical service in 2012 while in high school working for the Atmore Ambulance Service at the age of 18. He also joined the Flomaton Fire Department in 2012.
He obtained his Advance Emergency Medical Technician license in 2013 from the state of Alabama.
The following year he was hired as a dispatcher with the Flomaton Police Department and later that year became a full time police officer. He was promoted to investigator in 2016.
Over the years Thompson has completed numerous investigative courses ranging from child abuse investigations to crime scene investigations and court trials.
In 2016 he was promoted to sergeant and received the Life Saving Award that same year.
Thompson also received his SWAT certification in 2016 and a year later was promoted to lieutenant. In 2018 he was named assistant police chief in Flomaton.
"The people of Flomaton deserve an active and proactive police department and that's what I plan to continue," Thompson said. "Our goal will remain the same, which is to make this a safe community to live and a safe community to raise a family."
