A veteran officer was appointed assistant police chief last week after the Mayor and Board of Aldermen approved the new administrative position.
Aldermen at the same time re-appointed Dickie Sistrunk as chief of police.
Julian Greer, who has 16 years of service on the police force, was appointed assistant police chief at Sistrunk's recommendation.
Aldermen said they would set his salary later.
Greer had been basically doing the job without compensation, Sistrunk said.
"Our city has grown tremendously and with that we have never had an assistant chief's slot," he said. "It would alleviate some of the caseload and workload I have on me on a day-to-day basis and he would serve as interim chief in my absence."
Ward 1 Alderman Joe Tullos, who previously served as police commissioner, said the
new position was needed due to the number of calls the department receives.
"This is something that eight years ago I saw a need for it. No one guy can operate that department due to the amount of calls they get. Julian, I think, has been doing some of this already and not getting any pay," Tullos said.
Aldermen also voted unanimously to create a position for a fourth investigator on the police force and promoted officer Gordon Adkins to the position at Sistrunk's recommendation.
Aldermen also accepted a $41,000 Homeland Security Grant which was awarded to the police department and will be used to purchase a utility vehicle and a pickup truck.
The low bid of $8,595 from Windham Tractor was accepted for the new utility vehicle.
The remainder of the grant will be used to purchase a Ford F-250 pickup truck at state contract price.
Sistrunk said the pickup would be used to pull the department's new mobile command center.
In other police related action, aldermen:
• Terminated Charles Hamilton from the police department after Sistrunk said he voluntarily left the law enforcement training academy before completing the certification training. the police chief said.
• Promoted Sharon Harrison to senior telecommunicator.
• Added a confiscated 2006 Nissan to the police department's fleet as an unmarked vehicle.
• Promoted Sgt. Bobby Clark and Sgt. Larry Smith to staff sergeants.
