Summerdale Police Chief Sidelined, And Quickly Reinstated
By J. Thomas Wade
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
September 21, 2026
SUMMERDALE, Ala. The city of Summerdale is a growing community in the heart of the metro Foley area of Baldwin County but it’s still a town with a population of under 2,000 residents within their city limits.
The town has come under scrutiny several times in recent years including the arrest of its police chief and his wife, an unwarranted “raid”, later called a security check by the mayor, of the volunteer fire department, and now, a sudden termination and rehire of its current police chief.
What’s going on in Summerdale?
Last week, Summerdale’s police chief, Michael Gaull, was placed on administrative leave after Mayor Randy Farris asked him to resign.
When the mayor was asked why he asked his police chief to voluntarily resign, he said that it was a personnel matter.
Several people within the local political circle have said that Farris wants outgoing Baldwin County Commissioner Matt McKenzie to be the new police chief.
Farris claims it was because of unspecified allegations which he won’t discuss.
However, in less than seventy-two hours after the chief being sidelined, the Summerdale council voted 4-2 to reinstate Chief Gaull immediately.
More than several residents are not happy with the mayor’s style of handling personnel matters and have questioned his ability to lead.
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