The Brookhaven Board of Aldermen approved the hiring of three police officers as well as three firefighters at its last meeting.

Peyton Reid, Gage Dickerson and Nash Durr were presented by Brookhaven Fire Chief Jeff Ainsworth, who completed their interviews and physical trials.

“All three come from law enforcement families,” Ainsworth said.

Reid is the son of Emergency Management Director Chris Reid, Dickerson is the son of Chief Deputy Keith Richardson, and Durr is the son of Deputy William Durr, who was killed in the line of duty in 2017.

Ainsworth said seven out of 10 people who applied for the episode showed up for physical auditions. One person quit during the trial and two more did not pass. The remaining four candidates were approved by Marlon Dixon, the chief and the department’s chief training officer.

Ainsworth presented three hires Tuesday, saying the fourth was injured during the county’s volunteer firefighting response and will be introduced when fully recovered.

Board members welcomed the three men and approved their employment as uncertified firefighters at $32,000 annually, pending completion of drug tests, physical exams and background checks.

Police Chief Kenneth Collins also submitted three candidates for positions in the police department.

The men were Copiah County Sheriff’s Deputy Jonathan McWilliams, Natchez Police Department Officer Ricco Carter and former BPD Sgt. Eric Malone. Based on their many years of experience, McWilliams was approved for hire as a certified patrol officer for $41,750 and Carter was approved as a certified patrol officer for $47,750. Both men will leave their current law enforcement positions.

Malone, a former BPD officer, has 32 years of experience and was offered employment as an Evidence Clerk for $45,750, a position recommended by the District Attorney’s Office. As a certified officer, Malone would be an armed presence at department headquarters, have an evidence room for possible inspections, maintain chain of custody on evidence and be able to testify to it, and be able to transport evidence to and from the State. Crime Lab.

“I can see the advantage of having a certified officer at the station,” Mayor Joe Cox said.

After brief discussion in executive session, the Board approved the hiring of all three individuals pending drug tests, physical examinations and background checks, and changed Malone’s title to Evidence and Inventory Clerk.

In other matters, the Board:

• Certified firefighters Kelly Porter, Dustin Porter and Seth Morris will participate in the Pursuit Awareness Class at the Public Safety Training Facility in Meridian, Nov. 12-14. There is no fee for registration and the City will cover the cost of meals and mileage.
• Approved for advance payment of $33,143.57 to Beacon Construction LLC for work completed on the North Jackson Street Bridge, with funds provided from the Emergency Road and Bridge account.
• A Memorandum of Understanding was approved between the City and the State Department of Finance to receive $750,000 in SB2468 funds for the rehabilitation of Brookway Boulevard.
• As announced by Governor Tate Reeves, Friday, November 29th and Tuesday, December 24th have been approved as additional holidays in celebration of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• Approved emergency repair of Industrial Park Water Tank valve.
• Approved payment request from G Rayborn Contracting LLC in the amount of $80,024.68 for work completed on Class 1 Landfill Closure 6.
• Spread throughout the minutes was a City proclamation honoring the life of Andrew Spiller, father of Ward 6 Alderman Andre’ Spiller, who died on October 15th. Councilman Spiller read a note from the family thanking the city for the announcement, saying: “Thank you for acknowledging the difference my father made in his hometown.”