A Resident on the State of Sheffield

 

Some interesting and vetted information from a Sheffield citizen:

Since Christopher Tate has assumed the role as Chief of Police at Sheffield Police Department. Not only have there been a significant loss in the number of manpower but as well as the amount of patrols being done. As it sits now there are from top to bottom, there are only 11 employees at Sheffield Police Department. There are only 2 officers on patrol at all times in the City of Sheffield. At this point, being a concerned citizen of the shoals area, I believe that Colbert County Sheriff’s Department should absorb the City of Sheffield. 

Furthermore, Sheffield Police Department on May 26th, 2025 (Memorial Day). Sheffield Police Department held a Memorial Day/ Community Cookout at Riverfront Park. I have it on very good accounts and were able to confirm on multiple sources that Chief Christopher Tate as well as other officers consumed alcohol at this event. So much so that it was to the extent that Chief Christopher Tate was unable to drive his vehicle home and had to have a fellow employee drive him home. It is important to know that it was advertised on Sheffield Police Department’s Facebook page on May 20th, 2025. Sheffield Police Department gave thanks to multiple companies and individual people for donating food and money to the event that resulted in Chief Christopher Tate and other officers getting drunk. The Facebook post from Sheffield Police Department mentions thanking Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart (Florence), Wal-Mart (Muscle Shoals), Foodland (Sheffield), Dollar General (Sheffield), and Pastor Stephen Gill for their donations. It is to the best of my knowledge that Pastor Stephen Gill is a current Civil Service Member over Sheffield Police Department. Not only do I believe this to be absurd and an extreme breach of trust and professionalism. It also showcases the current state that the Sheffield Police Department is in. They have posted all the time about recruiting “Looking for community minded people willing to serve and protect the City on the Bluff”. If hosting a Memorial Day/ Community Cookout and having the Chief of Police get drunk is their idea of serving and protecting their community, no wonder there are so many lawsuits against the police department. I was also made aware that a homeless member of the shoals, he as well requested to remain anonymous. He protested that he was arrested by Sheffield Police Department and charged for trespassing and possessing a bottle of liquor at Avalon Park. He stated that he was simply sleeping at the park because it was raining and he was homeless and didn’t want to sleep in the rain. He further disclosed that when he asked the officer what his charges were, he was told criminal trespassing and violation of Sheffield City Ordinance 3.7.. He further stated that he was never given any paperwork stating that he was trespassed from a public park. He further stated that when he asked what city ordinance 3.7 was he was told that it is an ordinance that prohibits the consumption, possession, sale, trade or purchase of alcohol at any public park in the City of Sheffield. I then asked the homeless citizen about what time he was arrested. He stated that it was around Memorial Day, but could not give an exact date.  After being told this, I confirmed that Riverfront Park is a public park within the City of Sheffield. If one of our community members is going to be charged from the violation of that city ordinance. Shouldn’t the Chief of Police be charged as well? I mean they are supposed to be held to a higher standard, aren’t they? Why should Sheffield Police officers and their Chief of Police be able to get away with breaking the laws that they are sworn to protect but everyone else has to pay the cost and pay their fines to go to the City of Sheffield. Say what you want about Former Chief Ricky Terry but I never heard of him breaking laws. 

I have also learned that Chief Christopher Tate not only is being picky about hiring officers to replace the ones that have left or got charges/lawsuits filed against them but he also hires his friends and promotes them quickly. I have seen this officer come back to Sheffield Police Department and then shortly after be promoted to Lieutenant. That officer being Regina Cantrell. I was told by citizens of Sheffield that Regina Cantrell left Sheffield Police Department as a Lieutenant shortly after Former Chief Ricky Terry took office. I also have it on good sources that Regina Cantrell after she departed from Sheffield Police Department went to work for a neighboring county as a School Resource Officer and stayed in this role for over 4 years. I was also told that Regina Cantrell and Chief Christopher Tate and his wife Dionna Tate stayed in close contact and even attended get togethers at Chief Christopher Tate’s home in Sheffield. Once Christopher Tate took on the role as Chief of Police, Regina Cantrell came back to Sheffield Police Department after a 5 year hiatus from working as a patrol officer. She was then promoted back to Lieutenant within 60 days after coming back. So my takeaway from this is that if you are good friends with Christopher Tate then you will move up quickly in the ranks. Here I thought Former Chief Ricky Terry was bad but good grief Chief Christopher Tate is making a strong case.

I have also learned that the Mayor of Sheffield (Steve Stanley) was made aware of the events at Riverfront Park and Regina Cantrell. I was told that a meeting was held with Sheffield’s Civil Service Board about Riverfront Park and Regina Cantrell. It is apparent that they are more concerned about repaving Hatch Boulevard than what’s going on under their own roof. I can name a dozen more roads in Sheffield that need to be repaved before Hatch Boulevard. Maybe Mayor Stanley is thinking if he repaves a main road in Sheffield that it will win him votes in the election and will outshine his failing choice in Police Chiefs and his failed community.