BAY MINETTE — The Bay Minette Police Department is back up to full staff after hiring four officers. The hirings also satisfy the requirements of a grant that will fund another officer for three years, after which the city will absorb the cost.

Ray Dominguez

Though this is his first stint as a police officer, Ray Dominguez is no stranger to law enforcement. His list of credentials includes a long, successful career in the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and sociology from the University of New York at Albany.

He is also a graduate of the APOSTC Law Enforcement Academy in Tuscaloosa and the United States Coast Guard Academy Reserve Officer Candidate School.

He is currently working toward a masters in leadership management and ethics at Spring Hill College.

"All my experience and education, coming up in a hispanic community gives me a diverse background to deal with just about any situation that occurs in Bay Minette," Dominguez said.

Though he grew up in a hispanic community, Dominguez is  Native American, hailing from the Mescalero Tribe in Cloudcroft, N.M. He is able to read, write and speak Spanish and English fluently.

He said his time with the Coast Guard took him to a variety of places.

"I've been able to experience different kinds of Americans as well as immigrants," he said. "I've been able to pick up dialects from people and observe their behavior. It does help a lot being out there."

Dominguez comes to the Bay Minette Police Department from Mobile County, where he was a probation officer with the Mobile County Sheriff's Office. Immediately preceding that he worked as an emergency assistance specialist with the U.S.D.A.

After a 10-year career in the Coast Guard, which included various positions leading up to a position as port duty officer in charge of the 217-feet-long Cutter Cypress and its crew, Dominguez moved to the reserves and began his civilian career.

During the last decade he has held positions as a corrections officer and probation officer before deciding he wanted to try his hand at police work.

"I decided I needed a change and wanted to do police work," he said of applying to the Bay Minette Police Department.

In addition to his experience, Dominguez brings with him a wealth of achievements and honors, including a Special Operations Ribbon, Humanitarian Medal for Hurricane Andrew, Coast Guard Meritorious Medals, Coast Guard Meritorious Team Medals, Coast Guard Good Conduct Awards and Coast Guard Commandant's Letter of Commendation. He also received the Crystal Ball Award from the City of Mobile.

Dominguez has been married to Ashley Dominguez for six years and has a step-son, Tyler Fleming who is 18 and works for Bachelor's Heating and Air, and a son, 14-year-old Braxton Raymundo Dominguez, who attends McGill-Toolen Catholic School in Mobile where he plays football.

Charles Phillips

Charles Phillips spent 18 years working for radio station WLO before he decided he was ready to follow his childhood dream of being a police officer. He spent 14 months with the Baldwin County Corrections facility before moving on to the Prichard Police Department for another 14 months.

He said he was attracted to the Bay Minette department because of its updated technology.

"Where I came from there wasn't a lot of that," he said.

The 41-year-old is married to Tammy and the couple has three children and two grandchildren. Phillips grew up in Mobile and graduated from John S. Shaw High School.

Justin Murray

Justin Murray, 30, moved to the area five years ago from Natchitoches, La., to be near family in Pensacola, Fla., and "to be near the ocean and fishing," he said.

He spent approximately 12 years in the landscaping business, but decided he was ready for a more stable job.

"I like the benefits and the excitement," he said. "It's a lot more fun than running around with a weedeater."

Murray worked for the Baldwin County Corrections facility for eight months before being hired on at the BMPD. He has been married to Leann for eight years. The couple has two children, ages 6 and 23 months.

Kenny Robinson

A native of Baldwin County and graduate of Robertsdale High School, 27-year-old Kenny Robinson, spent years in sales before he decided he also wanted the stability and rewards of police work.

"I wanted to make a difference," he said. "I wanted to clean up the mean streets of Bay Minette."

Robinson served eight months with Murray at the Baldwin County Corrections facility. He has been married to Kathy for three years and the couple has two children, 7 and 2, and one due next month.