Mayor Tammy Crane called a Special Meeting of the Council for 4 PM Friday for the purpose of hiring a Police Chief. Before a motion was made on an applicant, Council Member Jack Bond questioned the Mayor about the process of hiring a new chief. He said he did not have anything against the applicant and said he does not know the man and that he might be the best man for the job but he wanted an opportunity to interview the applicant. Councilman Tim Miller did interview the applicant.

Bonds said he did not think the Town should rush into hiring a new Chief. When Bond finished his statement, Council Member Anna Grace made a motion to hire Brody Moses as Cedar Bluff’s Police Chief at the pay of $25.50 per hour. Councilman Tim Miller seconded the motion. After the second and during discussion of the motion, Council Member Bond ask that his statement be made a part of the minutes and record of the meeting then he restated his objections to hiring a Police Chief at this time. On a Roll Call vote, Bond voted no, Council Members, Harp, Grace, and Miller voted yes with Mayor Crane voting yes.

During the meeting there were some outburst and Mayor Crane attempted to keep order

After the outburst by Police Officer Chris Vaughn, Council Member Jack Bond said why don’t we get a real police officer in here. Vaughn said he and two other officers were working 7 days per week and many days 12 to 14 hour shifts. He said he had only had 4 days off out the last 30 days.

Mayor Crane told WEIS Radio News, “we have a crisis and need a police chief.” The department normally has five officers with the Chief.

Mayor Crane tells WEIS Radio News, Moses hiring is official and he is working out a two week notice with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency where is an Alabama State Trooper. Moses will be on the job of Police Chief in Cedar Bluff in two weeks.

You can listen to Friday’s Special Called Meeting in it’s entirety by clicking the link below: