Captain Michael L. "Mike" Hudson

Michael L. Hudson began his law enforcement career as a Reserve Deputy in 1993 volunteering his time until he joined the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office April 30, 1994, as a Corrections Officer. After a year of solid service in the jail, he was hired as a sworn Deputy and began serving the citizens of Shelby County, patrolling their streets and keeping their neighborhoods safe. He was dedicated to his profession and was selected to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant on April 6, 2000, where he spent time in both the patrol and investigations divisions. He was a good Sergeant and gained the respect of his deputies, investigators and supervisors alike. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on January 11, 2008, and spent time in both the Patrol and Corrections divisions. After seven more years of dedicated service to the Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Shelby County he was promoted to the rank of Captain and assigned command of the Patrol division. He held that position the day he died, October 30, 2016, at the age of 49.

Captain Mike Hudson had many milestones in his law enforcement career, one that will be remembered with respect. He was a proud team leader of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Response Unit for 12 years. He had the rare distinction of graduating from the Southern Police Institute’s Administrative Officer’s Course in November, 2006, and then the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy in March, 2013. In a career that spanned 22 years, he had countless other educational and professional training certificates. He held a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Political Science degree from the University of Alabama-Birmingham. He was also scheduled to graduate from UAB with his Masters in Public Administration this December.

Captain Mike Hudson left a legacy behind at the Sheriff’s Office when he died. While he initiated many developmental courses for the men and women under his command, one thing shines brighter than the others. Upon his graduation from the FBI National Academy in 2013, then Sheriff Chris Curry made him the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) accreditation manager for the Sheriff’s Office. Under Captain Hudson’s direction, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office became the first Sheriff’s Office in Alabama to become CALEA certified in 2014. That certification remains in place today thanks to Mike Hudson.

What is missing above is Mike Hudson’s military service to this country. Mike was a proud member of the U.S. Army. He was on active duty from May, 1990, through October, 1992, and stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. He was an Army National Guard member from October, 1992, through October, 2001. Following the terrorist events of September 11, 2001, he was on active duty again as a squad leader for B Company 1-167th Infantry, Operation Nobel Eagle, at the Anniston Army Depot. From January, 2003, through September, 2004, he fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Task Force 1-64, where he led a squad from 2nd Platoon, C Company 3-15 Infantry through some of the fiercest fighting in and around Baghdad. His men fought through engagements in areas with names like An Najaf, Karbala, Baghdad and Fallujah. A book, “Thunder Run”, was written about the battles of Task Force 1-64, the first Americans into Baghdad. None of the men under his command died throughout his time in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mike Hudson distinguished himself in the Army and in combat. The Army recognized his service with the Combat Infantry Badge and multiple U.S Army Commendation and Achievement Awards. Mike Hudson used these words to guide his actions- Be, Know and then DO.

The words above describe a life of service to others. They describe a man’s career but they really do not define him. On November 4, 2006, Mike Hudson saw a car down an embankment and stopped to check on the driver. What he found was a young lady who was injured from the wreck and he immediately called for paramedics. Before they arrived and as he was talking to the victim, the car ignited into flames. Mike Hudson and another person who had stopped got the young lady out of her car and carried her to safety. He received the Sheriff’s Medal of Valor for his actions that day. Another example from many in his personnel file (1999), “Deputy Hudson went beyond his normal call of duty to help my family. My wife and daughter could not say enough about how nice and helpful he was.”

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn “Betsy” Moore; daughters, Taylor, Morgan and Gracelyn Hudson; stepchildren, Brittney and Robert Furrh, Trey and Emily Johnson, Caden Moore and Raio Campos; grandson, Jon Michael Saravia; mother, Sue King; father, Norman Michael Hudson (Cami); stepfather, Ken King; sister, Tanya Sanner (Keith); and nephew, Kingslee Sanner.

Michael L. Hudson will be missed by many. His law enforcement family will miss him. His military family will miss him. His family and friends will miss him.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2016 from 5-8 PM at Rockco Funeral Home (Montevallo) and on Friday, November 4, 2016 from 11 AM-1 PM at First Baptist Church of Columbiana. Special hours for friends of his daughter, Gracie, are from 6-7 Thursday at Rockco and 12-1 Friday at the church. His service will begin on Friday at 1 PM at First Baptist Church of Columbiana with a committal service to follow at 2:45 PM at Alabama National Cemetery.