A cheering, standing-room crowd packed the Prichard City Council chambers as the city formally swore in new leaders for its police and fire departments, closing out a search for permanent chiefs that had dragged on for more than two years.
Mayor Troy Ephriam told those gathered that “good things come to those who wait,” a line that captured the mood of a ceremony years in the making. Bernard Parrish, a former officer with the Bayou La Batre Police Department, the University of South Alabama police and the 13th Judicial Circuit Court police, was officially installed as Prichard’s police chief. He becomes the fifth person to hold the role, whether permanently or on an interim basis, since Ephriam parted ways with the department’s previous chief back in December 2012. Parrish had served as interim chief since November 2014, and the City Council approved his contract the following month.
Fred Chambers, a longtime member of the Prichard Fire-Rescue Department who has served the department since at least the early 2000s, was named permanent fire chief. He had been serving in an interim capacity since 2013, after the previous chief’s employment with the city ended. Chambers said the moment offered a sense of validation, though he was already looking ahead to the department’s daily demands, adding there was little time to dwell on the milestone before getting back to work.
Both new chiefs used their remarks to outline priorities for their departments. Parrish said his immediate focus would be increasing the number of officers patrolling Prichard’s streets and securing more vehicles for the department, though he declined to disclose current staffing numbers, citing safety concerns. He said he planned to pursue grant funding to help pay for additional hires, arguing that officer counts directly affect crime levels in the city.
Chambers echoed similar goals for the fire department, saying he hoped to boost manpower and improve effectiveness across the ranks. He also pointed to a challenge tied to Prichard’s fiscal history, noting that the city’s past bankruptcy has complicated efforts to offer competitive pay. He said he has been working with the mayor’s office to find ways to raise salaries and address staff retention.
The dual swearing-in closes a turbulent chapter for Prichard’s public safety leadership, which saw a string of interim appointments and departures over roughly two years. With permanent chiefs now in place for both departments, city officials expressed hope that the stability will translate into steadier staffing and service for Prichard residents going forward.