DeKalb residents push for public safety director

DeKalb County commissioners got an earful Tuesday from residents and the message was unmistakable — hire a public safety director.

At a public hearing Tuesday as the commission met to consider approving the county budget, a stream of people told commissioners they supported Chief Executive Officer Burrell Ellis’ proposal to create the position to oversee police, fire and emergency management. They said the change would help reduce crime and better coordinate various public safety functions.

The position would be a return to the past. The county had a cabinet-level public safety position until it was dismantled by former CEO Vernon Jones after he took office in 2001.

Some members of the commission’s public safety committee have expressed skepticism about creating a new position in a tight budget. Ellis apparently has the authority to create the position without commission approval, but he will have to sacrifice money from his own office budget unless the commission funds the new job.