FERRIDAY — Ferriday Mayor Gene Allen appointed the town’s next police chief Tuesday, but not without dissent and discussion from the Board of Aldermen.

Allen named current interim police chief Derrick Freeman to the fulltime position Tuesday during the board’s regular monthly meeting.

In Ferriday, the mayor appoints the police chief at his sole discretion.

“We have someone here within our department that is more than capable of handling this job and is certified in all aspects of the job,” Allen said. “I’m happy to name this young man as our police chief.”

Alderman Johnnie Brown quickly voiced his opinion against Allen’s appointment.

Brown was one of three people who served on a search committee that interviewed three candidates for the position.

The committee unanimously recommended former Ferriday Police Chief Johnny Evans to be the new chief following the interviews.

Brown said he thought the mayor never cared what the committee had to say about the position.

“We worked so hard on this, and we did this because you made the recommendation for the committee,” Brown said. “After all that, you had your mind made up when you sat in that chair.

“It was a slap in the face to the committee.”

Freeman along with Evans and Ferriday officer John Cowan also applied and interviewed for the position.

A statement from the committee issued after the interviews said they felt, “Evans displayed a level of job knowledge that the other candidates did not convey and has the experience that we believe is necessary to helping the Ferriday Police Department progress from its current state to a higher level of performance within the community.”

Allen said he appreciated the work of the committee to bring forward the recommendation, but still felt Freeman was a better fit for the position.

“After looking at several of the issues at hand, I felt we had someone capable of doing the job and could be with us a long time,” Allen said. “I have the utmost respect for everyone on that committee, and you did the job I asked you to do.

“I didn’t choose to go that way, but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect you.”

Allen said the board had the ability to approve or disapprove his decision, but that he was still going to appoint Freeman as chief of police.

Alderwoman Sandra Pryor was the only board member who said she agreed with the mayor’s decision to appoint Freeman.

In other news from the meeting:

-Allen said he would like the board to consider the idea of creating a Ferriday Economic Development committee.

The parish has its own board, Concordia Parish Economic Development, but Allen said the town needs its own entity to push for Ferriday specific projects.

“We need local people and board members serving on that,” Allen said. “We cannot grow without economic development.”

No action was taken on the item, but Allen asked board members to consider any town residents that might want to serve on the board.

-Allen requested the board’s permission to apply for grant funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to purchase three new police cars.

The grant, Allen said, is for $45,000 and would require a roughly $20,000 local match to purchase the three new patrol units.