Alabama Police Chief Calls for More Mental Health Resources After 3 Officers Shot

Calera Police Chief David Hyche emphasizes the dangers officers face when responding to mental health crises.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Three Alabama law enforcement officers were shot in separate incidents over a seven-day period, highlighting the dangers they face and the need for more mental health resources. Calera Police Chief David Hyche spoke about the rise in violence against officers and the importance of crisis intervention training and having dedicated mental health professionals to assist officers in de-escalating volatile situations.

Why it matters

The recent shootings of Alabama officers underscore the risks law enforcement face, especially when dealing with individuals experiencing mental health crises. Hyche believes more mental health resources and specialized training are needed to help officers safely navigate these types of situations and protect both themselves and the public.

The details

The shootings began on Feb. 8 in Hoover, where police responded to a domestic disturbance with a report of a "mentally disturbed person." One officer was injured, and another was shot at, while the suspect was killed. Last Wednesday, an officer was shot during a shootout in Montgomery, where the suspect was killed. The most recent incident occurred on Saturday in Columbiana, where an officer was shot while conducting a welfare check. All three officers have since recovered.

  • On February 8, the first shooting incident occurred in Hoover.
  • On February 15, the second shooting incident occurred in Montgomery.
  • On February 18, the third shooting incident occurred in Columbiana.

The players

David Hyche

The Calera Police Chief who spoke about the need for more mental health resources and crisis intervention training for officers.

Shelby County

The county that employs a mental health officer, a position Hyche believes has saved lives.

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What they’re saying

“These three incidents hit home. A lot of them, dealing with people with a mental health crisis. It's extremely dangerous for everybody involved. Often when the officer responds, the officer doesn't know whether you're dealing with a mental health issue, a drug abuse issue, a developmental delay, you don't know what you're dealing with, and you have to go and diagnose that and deal with a volatile situation.”

— David Hyche, Calera Police Chief (wvtm13.com)

“I've seen him come out and totally redirect a situation and just bring the level of volatility down. He's a trained professional; this is what he does.”

— David Hyche, Calera Police Chief (wvtm13.com)

“The place to learn is not when you're in a life-or-death situation. The place to figure these things out is in a safe training environment.”

— David Hyche, Calera Police Chief (wvtm13.com)

What’s next

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is investigating all three shooting incidents.

The takeaway

The recent shootings of Alabama law enforcement officers highlight the need for increased mental health resources and specialized training to help officers safely respond to and de-escalate volatile situations involving individuals experiencing mental health crises. Calera Police Chief David Hyche believes these measures could save the lives of both officers and citizens.