Retired Mobile district chief LeAnn Tacon will become Daphne’s new fire chief Monday, following action by the City Council.
The council voted Monday, Jan. 4, to name Tacon as chief. Tacon accepted the offer later in the week and will start Thursday, Jan. 14.
She will become the fifth person to oversee the Daphne Fire Department in about a year. She replaces Melvin Brown, a former Birmingham battalion chief, who was hired in June and resigned in December. Brown was hired to replace James “Bo” White who retired at the end of December 2019 after 12 years as chief.
Kenny Hanak served as interim chief between White’s retirement and Brown’s hiring. Joey Holasz has been interim chief since Brown’s resignation.
Councilman Benjamin Hughes said Tacon and Brown were the two finalists for the position following White’s retirement. Councilwoman Angie Phillips said council members felt Tacon was the best candidate for the current vacancy.