Raper leaving as Hodges' chief

By Staff
Melissa Cason
HODGES – After six years of service for the town of Hodges, Police Chief Tracey Raper turned his badge over to the town's new police chief Friday afternoon.
It was his last day as the town's part-time police chief.
Raper said he decided to step down as chief at Hodges because working two jobs had taken a toll on him professionally, and so that he can spend more time with his 13-year-old daughter.
"Working two jobs wears and tears on you," Raper said. "It was time to go to one job."
Raper works full time as a night patrol supervisor for the Hamilton Police Department.
"Being an officer in Hamilton has gotten to be a big job, and I got to where I could not spend as much time as I liked in Hodges so I felt it was time to let go," he said.
Raper said he will miss many aspects of his job but what he'll miss the most is the people.
"I'll miss playing dominoes at the senior center and hanging out at E&J Gas," Raper said.
Raper has been a part of the Hodges' department for six years, and has been the chief there for the last year and a half.
"I've learned a lot about law enforcement from working in this town," he said.
Over the years, Raper has made countless arrests and has worked to help rid the streets of drugs and other illegal activity.
"This place has been cleaned up a lot over the years," he said.
Raper's successor, Eddie Wade Cantrell, became police chief Friday afternoon.
"I just want to thank the mayor, council and community as a whole for the years I have spent here," he said. "The people of Hodges are some of the best in all of Alabama."