Patrolling with Vestavia Hills Police

Officer Corey Sarvaunt grew up in Vestavia Hills. He joined the police department around three years ago and is currently on the evening shift, patrolling from 3-11 p.m. Sarvaunt said he wanted a career in law enforcement for a long time.

“Really all my life,” he said. “It’s something I always wanted to do.”

The Vestavia Voice joined Sarvaunt to observe an evening of a VHPD officer. 

2:30 p.m.

Officers from day shift and evening shift meet at the police station to exchange information. At this time, they will discuss any cases that carry over between shifts, such as suspect vehicles or missing persons.

2:47 p.m. 

Sarvaunt leaves the station to start his patrol. Even with donuts and other sweets at the station, Sarvaunt said he doesn’t like to linger there for too long. “When I get there, I’m ready to work,” he said. 

3:03 p.m.

Sarvaunt begins patrolling neighborhoods in his beat area. Some have seen robberies in recent weeks, and even though the robberies have occurred during night shift, he keeps an eye out for open windows and doors or other signs of a potential break-in.

“Even though it didn’t happen in our patrol, they [residents] like seeing us out here,” Sarvaunt said.

3:07 p.m.

A missing juvenile report comes in. Sarvaunt has spoken with the family before and goes to talk with the 15-year-old’s grandmother. He said the teen is likely staying at a friend’s house.

4:10 p.m.

After talking with the juvenile’s grandmother for about an hour, Sarvaunt and one of his superiors decide the next step is to file an official missing juvenile report. The report means if the teen is picked up by an officer, even in a different jurisdiction, VHPD will be notified and he will be returned to his grandmother. Sarvaunt leaves a case number with the grandmother, informs her that a detective will be assigned to the case and returns to the police station to file the report.

4:48 p.m.

Sarvaunt drives through Wald Park to check for the missing juvenile. He does not see the teen and continues on to patrol neighborhoods in the area.

“Usually you start having burglary reports coming in around 5-o’clock,” Sarvaunt said.

5:09 p.m.

Sarvaunt walks up to a man sitting in a car. The man is placed under arrest for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia and put in the back of the police vehicle. As Sarvaunt searches the suspect’s car, the suspect kicks one of the back windows of the police vehicle. Another officer arrives on scene to wait for a tow truck for the suspect’s car.

5:48 p.m.

After returning to the police station, Sarvaunt books the suspect, files paperwork and processes evidence. 

7:20 p.m.

Sarvaunt helps book and fingerprint a female prisoner. She had outstanding warrants at other departments, and Homewood PD was called to pick her up from the jail. While she was fingerprinted, she said she was a regular heroin user. The suspect began seizing while being processed, and medics were called to tend to her. Sgt. Richardson told the suspect the medics were coming and would take her to a hospital if she needed medical attention. He also said that an officer would go with her and an officer from Homewood PD would then pick her up.

7:46 p.m.

Sarvaunt conducts a traffic stop for a vehicle that swerved onto the shoulder a few times. The driver’s information came back with no warrants, and Sarvaunt let him go with no charges.

7:56 p.m.

Sarvaunt begins patrolling businesses in the area.

“After it gets dark, it’s good to check these businesses because they keep a lot of expensive equipment back here,” he said.

8:51 p.m.

Sarvaunt patrols around Vestavia Hills Elementary Central and surrounding areas for criminal activity. He stops to check a drainage culvert behind a school, where teenagers will paint graffiti and sometimes do drugs. No one is seen in the area.