Joy Harris

Hartselle Enquirer

Lt. Justin Barley first became a police officer because his wife’s grandfather got him a job as a sheriff’s deputy in Lawrence County back in 1997.

Before that Lt. Barley had earned a two-year degree in Sports Medicine from Wallace State Community College. His senior year of high school he became interested in working as a police officer, but his mother didn’t like the idea. He decided to pursue sports therapy instead, but changed his mind when the opportunity to return to his former plans arose.

Today Lt. Barley is the public information officer and oversees the Criminal Investigation Division of the Hartselle Police Department. Throughout his 15 year career as a police officer, he has been a sheriff’s deputy in Lawrence County, a patrol officer for Hartselle, part of Narcotics Investigation with the Morgan County Drug Task Force, Sergeant of General Investigation and now Lieutenant over Criminal Investigation.

Since starting as a police officer, Lt. Barley has received a degree in Public Safety Administration from Athens State University and a Master’s degree in Justice and Public Safety from Auburn University at Montgomery.

Numerous training has been involved in Lt. Barley’s career, but the most intensive and prestigious was the FBI National Academy Session 235.

“Attending the FBI National Academy is the highlight of my career,” Lt. Barley said. “Only 2 percent of officers get to attend, and it was a great place to network and make connections nationally. It was a 12-week class in Virginia that took me away from my family, but was eventually worth it.”

As the Public Information Officer, Lt. Barley prepares press releases for the public about public service announcements or crime reports. He enjoys working closely with the media and Hartselle’s citizens through the police department’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Lt. Barley is also proud to work in such a family-oriented department.

“I basically work with my brothers and sisters,” Lt. Barley said. “We work as a team. I am really blessed to have not only amazing co-workers, but great friends in this department.”

As part of the Criminal Investigation Division, Lt. Barley works on more serious crimes or felonies that require more intensive investigation than a patrol unit. He is trained in death investigation, crime scene photography and crime scene processing.

Lt. Barley knew being a police officer would mean seeing people at their worst, but he knew it was a job that would make a difference.

“This is an important job,” Lt. Barley said. “I get to help people and it’s something I’m proud of.”