Former High Ranking Dothan Police Officer Dies

A former captain in the Dothan police department died Monday following a lengthy battle with cancer.  John Givens worked his way up the ranks after beginning work with the department about 30 years ago. 

"John was very bright and articulate," said former chief John C. White.  "He was one of my most crucial assistants who spent much of his time as the commander of the department's patrol division."  White said Givens also, at one point in his career, was in charge of the training division.  "He had an opportunity to pass along to young officers his knowledge of law enforcement," White said.  

Givens was also a member of the Army National Guard where he served as a chief warrant officer.  He piloted Blackhawks and other helicopters.  Givens began a leave of absence with the department in 2004, serving an extended assignment in the Guard.  He retired a few years later.

Givens was also a former broadcaster, having worked as news director of radio station WAGF.  He later was an on-air talent at WDHN.  "John and I would often joke with each other that he left broadcasting for a law enforcement career and I stayed in the news business and we couldn't figure out which one of us came up on the short end of the stick," WDHN News Director Ken Curtis remembers.  "John was an extremely bright person who kept up with current events from around the globe." 

Funeral services will be held at 2 P.M. Thursday, November 1, 2012, at the Ward Wilson Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Memory Hill Cemetery with Ward Wilson Funeral Home directing.

The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home an hour before service time.