Congratulations to MCDA’s Officer of the Month Michael Allo. Officer Allo has been in law enforcement for two and a half years and currently works for the Satsuma Police Department. His journey began as a police explorer with the Satsuma Police Department when he was a young boy. He graduated top of his class while attending an Alabama state-certified police academy in Selma, AL. One of the ways he tries to distinguish himself is by being knowledgeable. We asked Officer Allo a few questions to better understand what it means to be in law enforcement.
What is the best thing about being a Law Enforcement Officer?
The best thing about being a law enforcement officer is that on any given day I can come into contact with any person, from anywhere, from any background; which incidentally, allows me to have a first-hand account of the true beauty of the world. However, with a greater understanding of that beauty, there is a profound realization that there are those who do threaten that beauty. It is my deepest honor to be one of the chosen, who stands on the wall as a watchman, protecting everyone who contributes to the beauty of the world.
Has there been anyone in your career who has inspired you?
Those who have come before me, my mentors, have inspired my desire to be the best at everything I do and in every small aspect of those actions. These individuals are a part of the collective whole: Detective D. Herrington; Chief C. Harrell; Lieutenant R. Dix; Captain J. Dukes; Sergeant T. Willcutt; Sergeant K. Sellers; Sergeant W. Miller (Saraland Police Department); Detective R. Busby (Mobile County Sheriff’s Office); Chief E. Delmore (Gulf Shores Police Department); Trooper Gualtney (ALEA). All of these individuals have counseled me and encouraged me to strive for excellence in the pursuit of continued success in my career.
What is your advice to someone seeking employment in law enforcement?
My advice to anyone aspiring for a career in law enforcement, not merely based on my own experience, but also the mentoring that shaped me, is to have a full understanding of the function of a law enforcement officer. Being a law enforcement officer is more than just a career; it is a lifestyle. Only after having a well-rounded understanding of the responsibilities and sacrifices that are required, should an individual pursue a law enforcement career. That being said, if their answer to themselves is law enforcement is for me, then I say to them, “Go after it with your whole heart! Don’t be afraid to strive for excellence for the entirety of your career. Never settle for just good enough and never stop learning!”
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I would like to say that I whole-heartedly accredit all of my blessings, success thus far, and success to come to Jesus, my Lord and Savior, for not only placing this honorable call on my life but also equipping me with the abilities to see it to fruition. I also want to thank Him for giving me a wife and a family that has supported me every step of the way. Lastly, for every person that He has placed in my path to be a light in the darkness, and for every officer who make up our law enforcement family. Because I am only a small piece of a much larger picture.