The city of Brandon has named a new police chief just a few days after ousting the former one.
During a special meeting on Wednesday, Mayor Butch Lee and the Board of Aldermen voted to promote from within the department, hiring Sgt. Joseph French to fill the vacancy left by former chief Wayne Dearman.
Dearman was relieved of his duties during a Monday board meeting following 13 months of service as the head of the police department.
City officials have not yet released any reasoning for Dearman’s firing. Dearman began his tenure in October 2022 after former police chief William Thompson retired.
French will be sworn in as police chief on November 20.
