Marion's Interim Police Chief: A Look At Nikisha Gailes' Journey

History has been made in the Perry County City of Marion. Nikisha Gailes has been appointed as Interim Chief of Police: She become the first female ever to hold the chief's position in the West Alabama city of 3,686.

According to a press release from the city, Chief Gailes brings 31 years of law enforcement experience and a distinguished record of leadership, service, and community commitment to the job.

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“We are honored to welcome Interim Chief Gailes to the City of Marion,” Marion Mayor Dexter Hinton was quoted in the release as saying. “Her experience, integrity, and strong leadership record speak for themselves. She is highly respected across the law enforcement community, and we are confident in her ability to guide the department forward during this transitional period.”

Chief Gailes roots run deep in West Alabama. She was born and raised in Putnam, a tiny town of 172 residents in southwest Marengo County. She is a 1991 graduate of Sweetwater High School and continued her studies at Hobson State University in Thomasville before relocating to Bastrop, Louisiana in 1995.

Bastrop is where she began her law enforcement career. It was there she earned a Criminal Justice degree at Northeast Louisiana University (NLU). After graduation from the 55th Unit Police Academy in Monroe, Louisiana. she was hired by Bastrop PD.

Gailes returned to Alabama and continued a career of breaking barriers in law enforcement. She became the first female officer to serve with the Marengo County Sheriff’s Department and later became the first female Pine Hill Police Chief in 2004.

Chief Gailes has served in several levels of local law enforcement as an investigator, sergeant, assistant police chief, and chief of police.

Gailes became qualified to hold the chief's position when she met all requirements to be recognized as a Certified Executive Law Enforcement Officer by the State of Alabama.

Previous Marion Chief Kendrick Howell, the assistant chief, a lieutenant and a beat officer abruptly resigned earlier this month prompting this response from Mayor Hinton,

“They’ve built a great department, but it’s all about the money. We’re doing the best we can with what we’ve got.” Their departure left nine sworn officers on the force.

The application period for a permanent Chief of Police is now open in accordance with state and municipal policy.