BAY MINETTE — Council members couldn't help but notice the almost comical view of the imposing 6-foot, 270-pound Bay Minette police officer sitting in the audience with a stuffed orangutan hanging from his neck.

Yet again, it is hard to miss the humble Sgt. Jim Eissler, Bay Minette Middle School’s Resource Officer.

Perhaps that is why Eissler was honored as Bay Minette’s Top Cop for 2008 at the City Council meeting Jan. 20.

"I had no idea why I was asked to be at the meeting,” Eissler said. “Chief (Michael Rowland) told me I needed to be at the meeting to give a presentation on what I do at the middle school. That's why I brought Harry."

Harry is the orangutan Eissler is known for. He uses the primate to teach children, particularly younger children, about doing right, avoiding bad situations and letting them know police are their friends. Of course, Harry also eases the formidableness of Eissler's somewhat intimidating size.

The former military police officer sports a smile that matches his big heart and maintains a humbleness that certainly makes for a Top Cop.

"I feel like I don't deserve this," Eissler said. "There are definitely more deserving officers on the force."

Eissler down played his role in shaping young people's lives, saying he simply "talks to kids." But, kids who have had the pleasure of meeting Eissler and spending time with him know it's more than that.

He said he loves his job and loves talking to kids, but said he feels like the cop on the street is the true Top Cop.

"The officers out there on the streets chasing the bad guys, they are the ones who deserve to be honored," he said. "What I do doesn’t have immediate gratification.

“The progress from what I do will be down the road. It will be years before I see any results from what I do, if I ever see results.

"An officer pursuing a criminal who has just robbed a bank, and makes an arrest, that's immediate. It's like you handled it, you did it and boom, gratification."

Eissler said Rowland told him he was going to submit his name for the Officer of the Year award, but said he did not expect to win.

"I didn't think it would go that far," he said. "I'm shocked."

He said he felt the chief's flair for speaking had an impact.

"The chief has a gift of being a good speaker," he said. "I'm sure his writing is as good as his speaking, and he probably put me in a good light."

The sergeant has been an officer with the Bay Minette Police Department for 15 years. Before joining the BMPD, he served 10 years as a military police officer with the U.S. Army.

He began his service in Bay Minette as a communications officer, joining patrol at a later date. In 2001 he was promoted to corporal, and three years later, in 2004, he attained the rank of sergeant.

In 2006, Eissler moved into the position of School Resource Officer at Baldwin County High School. He remained there two years, moving this year to the middle school, where he teaches the GREAT Program — Gang Resistance Education And Training.

Eissler grew up in Richfield Springs, N.Y., and he is a graduate of Richfield Springs Central School.

His wife is Kelly Eissler, and they have two children, Erika, 16, and Eric, 20.