CULLMAN, Ala. – Bill Fisher spent 25 years and one month in law enforcement before retiring in September 2023.
Bill (called Mr. Bill by many) served as a Student Resource Officer, patrol deputy and had many other titles during his tenure at the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office.
“From Aug. 19 of 1998 to Sept. 30, 2023, I was working full time,” Fisher said. “I ended up finishing 25 years and one month on the job. From Jan. 16, 1991, to Aug. 19,1998, I was a Reserve Deputy for the sheriff’s office for six years.”
After only a few months of being retired, Fisher shared, the need to work came back full force. He began working for Eckenrod Ford selling vehicles.
Although there was a big jump from serving to selling – he said the point is he’s still working with the general public and finds himself still sharing and helping just as he did with a law enforcement badge on.
“I remember being sworn in by Mrs. Betty Brewer in the Probate Office in January of 1991,” Fisher said. “I was so proud of taking that oath and beginning service. Sheriff David Laney hired me as a Reserve Deputy and my first assignment was working at the Cullman County Jail.”
Fisher shared that when he was initially assigned to the jail, he realized it was his first contact with the criminal element.
“Warden Brian Buegler assisted me in getting hired by Sheriff David Laney,” Fisher said.
He continued, “It was different to me because there were no drugs, no methamphetamine or fentanyl. These felons were in jail for deliberate acts of violence or property crimes. In other words, drugs did not make them make bad choices. It was their own free will that landed them in jail.
“I was then sent to the Police Academy at Jacksonville State University for a Reserve Deputy Academy. The program was one year and I passed while still getting my bachelor of science degree from The University of North Alabama. The Police Academy was taught on weekends so I did not miss any regular time at college. I graduated in June of 1992 from the Police Academy.”
Fisher said he then came home from college and could assist a regular patrol deputy in his or her duties while learning the ins and outs of the job.
“I rode as a partner with several different deputies and learned from each one,” he explained. “I began my career full time on Aug. 19,1998 and was sworn in by Sheriff Tyler Roden. It was at that point I felt a great responsibility being placed on me for the community. I was ready for the challenges that I would face in our community. I knew what I was entering and was ready to serve. I spent two weeks working in the jail and went on patrol by September of 1998.”
Fisher said that his first assignment was the West Point area.
“The sheriff’s office had transitioned to 12-hour shifts at this time so we had every other weekend off,” Fisher said. “I was still young and single, as well as living at home with my parents. I signed up to protect and serve – making $9.75 an hour. It was never about the money for me; it is a calling to serve.”
Fisher shared one event that deeply impacted his career was a wreck that he was involved in on Nov. 9, 1996.
“I was called by Deputy Jason Allen to assist him on patrol that evening and he and I were involved in a motor vehicle accident near the Pak a Sak (now Man Cave Market) located in Vinemont,” he said. “Our patrol car collided with another person’s vehicle. All occupants in the other vehicle died that night. Deputy Jason Allen and myself received care for injuries. We survived by God’s grace and the next months were a nightmare. Our case was presented to a grand jury and they found no fault with our actions. We were both sued and the cases were settled. I felt really crushed at this point in my law enforcement career. I wanted to help people and not be a part of a tragic situation.”
Fisher said he almost quit working as a public servant due to all the fallout, but a member of the community told him they needed people who care.
“My parents had instilled in me ‘do not quit and finish what you start,’ so I went back to serving,” Fisher said. “My dad died of a heart attack on Feb. 8, 1999. My family had a wholesale business and I had a decision to make. My mom said for me to stay and work as a deputy sheriff. I had been through so much training to quit and help in the wholesale business. I decided again to keep going in law enforcement. Lt. Phillip Lambert promoted me to Investigation in May of 1999. I walked into over 500 cases my first day. I began to work through what I could do as a new investigator.”
Fisher said he worked on several impactful murder cases that created a sense of purpose in his law enforcement career.
“I put together a murder case where Twilley shot Chambers, that was a big one,” Fisher said. “It went to court and the defendant was found guilty. The family was forever grateful for my assistance in this case. I then was assigned a case where a Reserve Officer Chris Anderson with Hanceville Police Department was shot at by Rodney Hanna and his accomplice Brandy Myrick. They both were charged with attempted murder. I was able to see Rodney Hanna go to trial and be found guilty. I then transported him to prison. He is still there and he is still dangerous.”
One other memory that stands out to Fisher is being the supervisor of courthouse security in Cullman on April 27, 2011, when tornadoes ripped through the area.
“That was a difficult day in that I was in the courthouse along with co-workers and other citizens,” Fisher said. “This day was difficult because the town I grew up in was forever changed. Sheriff Mike Rainey was the boss at the time. I had so many people to check on and no radio communication. We made it through a terrible tragedy for our community and state, but we pressed on stronger from it.”
Fisher said he spent the remainder of his career serving civil papers until November 2018 where Sheriff Matt Gentry promoted him to District Attorney Investigator.
“I was assigned several responsibilities and one was to serve child support defendants subpoenas,” Fisher said. “This was to summon them to court to take care of their responsibilities. It was a really good job and (former) District Attorney Wilson Blaylock received an award at a conference for our efforts. I then went back to the sheriff’s office after District Attorney Wilson Blaylock was going out of office after being defeated by Champ Crocker. I was then sent to assist District Attorney Champ Crocker as his Investigator. This was when he took office in January 2023.”
Fisher shared that he finished his career in the evidence room of the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office.
“On Sept. 30, 2023, I walked out of the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office as I walked in 25 years before,” he said. “I worked all the way until my shift was over. I did not want to leave in a hurry and I wanted to take in 25-plus years of service. I left law enforcement and walked into sales at Eckenrod Ford in Cullman, Alabama. My day to day is filled with endless possibilities. I am serving in a new role.”
The transition from serving to service is an interesting one for Fisher. Wade Bentley hired him at Eckenrod Ford.
“My job is to assist the customer in finding their goal vehicle,” Fisher said. “The deal can go on for days depending on the customer’s lifestyle. We try to treat every customer like family when shopping with us. I greet customers at the door or out on the lot. I call recent customers checking on their purchase. I call and wish them a happy birthday, get their car washed and detailed, check the status of an ordered part. It is a constant world of service. It can be to order a part and check the status. It can be that they are waiting on their vehicle to make it to our lot – this would be a dealer trade from another dealer. It could be an order from the factory that is coming in and could be there any day. The final point is it was new to walk into sales. I have met several great people and my co-workers are outstanding. I have two of them that cheer me on every day saying, ‘Bill, Bill, Bill.’ My co-workers and employers have become like family and I will forever be grateful to my work families. It is more blessed to give than receive in our society, but I’ve been given so much and for that I am so thankful.”
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