Summerville's Chief of Police will now serve as the city's Public Safety Director giving him dual authority over  both the city police department and fire department.

The council approved the measure in Monday night's regular monthly meeting and the move is effective immediately. 

According to City Manager Russell Thompson, the fire department's three volunteer fire chiefs will still serve in an advisory role and still carry rank on fire scenes, and emergency services, if and until Stan Mosley changes that.

Thompson says Mosley takes that position in an administrative capacity and was named to the position because his administrative skills are excellent.

The new director has little fire safety experience however and has only served as a volunteer firefighter.

Thompson says the council has discussed whether the new director should receive some fire safety training and he feels it would probably be prudent. 

The new post is for a six-month probationary period and Mosley will receive an extra $1,800 for that 6 month period. Plans are for the position to be permanent, however that will take another vote from the council, according to Thompson.