Talladega lost an iconic law enforcement officer when Joe Sparks died on Monday. A former Talladega police chief and long-time director of Northeast Alabama Police Academy, Sparks spent his life either enforcing the law or teaching others how to do it.

Talladega County Circuit Court Judge Julian King saw Sparks’ work as a police chief when King worked with the District Attorney’s office. The cases he presented to grand juries or the court system were “well presented and well prepared. He was a true, good law man,” King said.

Current Talladega Chief Alan Watson said he never worked under Sparks, but knew him as a “good friend” who often came by just to check on him and see how he could help. “He was a huge asset to this city,” Watson said.

And Talladega County Sheriff ‘s Department Chief Deputy Jimmy Kilgore said Sparks gave him his start in law enforcement and will “be missed by all in the law enforcement community.”

We send out condolences to Sparks’ family and friends.