When former Selma Police Chief William T. Riley and retiring Selma Fire Chief Mike Stokes announced their departures from their respective departments within a week of one another, it put a tremendous amount of pressure on Mayor George Evans and Selma City Council members to fill the positions.

The city quickly laid out a plan and has executed that plan to find the next man for the job in both departments.

Mayor Evans said last week the city was done interviewing candidates within the fire and police departments, and he felt like a decision would be made within the next couple of weeks.

The city interviewed six police officers and seven firefighters, and regardless of who the city names chief of police and fire chief, they need our support. According to Evans, each candidate was well qualified for the job, so citizens shouldn’t worry about the state of the public safety departments.

Whoever is chosen will be able to do their job, and we should make it easier for them.

We should stand behind them and give them the support they need to make the city of Selma a safe place to live for everyone.

As citizens of Selma, we should all take pride in our city and help the future fire and police chiefs do their job and ensure our safety.