The Mobile City Council unanimously approved a new executive director and a new fire chief during its regular meeting on Tuesday.
Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis appointed Curtis Graves as the new executive director of public safety.
"Director Graves has the tools and experience to be not only an effective leader, but also a compassionate and caring advocate for our citizens and victims of crime," Cheriogotis said. "I can't think of a better person to lead this department into the future and I'm excited to work alongside him to create a public safety system that serves and protects all Mobilians."
Graves replaces Rob Lasky, who has been moved to director of risk management under the new administration.
Graves, a U.S. Army veteran and longtime Mobile Police officer, is a certified Crisis Response Program Training (CRPT) trainer and graduate of the FBI's ELEVATE Program. He previously served as deputy director of Public Safety.
"He played a key role in Alabama's gunshot-wound reporting legislation (HB288) and continues to strengthen cross-agency collaboration, behavioral-health response and data-driven violence reduction strategies," the mayor's team stated in a press release.
The council approved Mobile Fire-Rescue chief Barry Glisson, who has been serving as interim chief since July.
Glisson, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, has nearly 30 years of experience in fire, EMA and emergency management.
"Chief Glisson is a steady, and impactful leader who has faithfully served his country and his community," Cheriogotis said. "He has earned the respect of his peers at MFRD and has a command of every aspect of the department's operations. I believe he is the perfect person to lead MFRD forward and continue its proud tradition of excellence and service."
Glisson has been with Mobile Fire-Rescue since 2004.
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