By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — Trussville Police Chief Don Sivley and Trussville Fire Chief Russell Ledbetter discussed their departments at last week’s Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Sivley was hired as a Trussville police officer in July 1976 and became chief in 1998. He said the department’s mission is to protect the people and property of Trussville. The department has 68 staff members, including 54 sworn officers.
Sivley said the department averages 140 arrests per month and 27 inmates per day. He said the addition of Chevrolet Tahoes as police cruisers have been “a tremendous help” and the department has seen thousands in savings by running them on compressed natural gas.
Ledbetter was hired in 1998 as the fire department’s first full-time chief. The department includes 40 paid members and 65 volunteers. He said the department is “very strong.”
Ledbetter reported that the department received 2,716 calls and responded to nine structure fires in 2013.
During the Jan. 28-29 winter storm, the fire department received 24 medical calls and transported 13 people. There were 150 pillows and blankets, 75 cots, 75 personal hygiene kits, and 20 cases of water provided at shelters in the city.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.