By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP – Managing Editor
The Brewton Police Department will lose one of its finest for an undetermined amount of time as a member of its ranks was called up this week for active duty in support of possible military action overseas.
John Mabus, a Flomaton resident and member of the Brewton Police Department, was activated on Wednesday and was to report for duty in Birmingham that evening.
Mabus is reporting with the 1166th Military Police Company from Greensboro and Thomasville. The units comprise about 160 personnel.
Upon calling up the reserve units, Governor Bob Riley and Maj. Gen. Mark Bowen, the state's adjutant general, said all the personnel will perform their missions at overseas locations. Mabus said on Wednesday that he did not know where he would be stationed.
Mabus came to the Brewton area as a recruiter for the National Guard. In July, he left the recruiting post and was hired as a police officer with the BPD.
The unit will be on active duty for a period of up to one year. After completion of post-mobilization training, the unit, along with two others from Alabama, will be performing their missions overseas. The exact dates of deployment and deployment locations are still classified at this time according to the governor's office.
Since learning of his deployment, Mabus said he has been very grateful to those who have expressed their support for him and his family.
A departure ceremony for the approximately 160 members of the 1166th Military Police Company of Greensboro and Thomasville will be held Sunday, Feb. 9. A short program of recognition for the Thomasville detachment will be held at the Fort Harrell/Blakeney National Guard armory, Hwy. 43 South in Thomasville at 1 p.m. Greensboro members will be honored at 3:30 p.m. at the National Guard armory, 515 Greene Street, in Greensboro.
Adjutant General Bowen or other senior guard officials will address the unit members and their families at each ceremony.
Mabus said that he has felt honored by the show of support he has received from local residents and businesses and the Brewton Police Department.
Mabus will be leaving his wife, Rayne, and three children: Joshua, 15; Zachary, 9 and Andrew, 8.