BROOKHAVEN — Aldermen voted to approve the hiring of four new officers to the Brookhaven Police Department adding depth to the law enforcement squad. A firefighter was also hired for the Brookhaven Fire Department. He had served in Brookhaven previously and worked in the Jackson and Canton Fire Departments.

Isaac Hooks was hired as a certified fire fighter with an annual salary of $35,602.15 pending a drug test and physical.

Vernon Cockerham Jr. was hired as a non-certified patrolman in the Brookhaven Police Department. He will earn a salary of $33,750 annually pending a drug test and physical. Cyianna Wynn was also hired as a non-certified patrolman. She is currently a student at Alcorn State and is a native of McComb. Wynn will be paid $33,750 annually pending a drug test and physical.

Kori Stewart was hired as a patrolman and will earn $42,000 annually pending a physical, drug test and verification.

Tiara Robinson Stewart was hired as a dispatcher at the rate of $12 an hour pending a physical, drug test and e-verification. Barbara Allred was rehired as a dispatcher at the rate of $12 an hour pending drug test, physical and e-verification.

All of the hires were big steps for the department as they work to get to a full staffed crew. Alderman Shannon Moore asked Brookhaven Police Chief Kenneth Collins if he had considered a portable building to be used as a police precinct. Collins informed him they needed to hire more people.

“We aren’t fully staffed right now. We will research it. We are in the process now of getting fully staffed,” he said. “We can usually get anywhere in the city within five minutes if it is an emergency. We are also still looking for a veteran code enforcement officer too. Digital stuff like cameras could be a good deterrent to crime.”