The promotion of Jeff Morris, a 31-year-veteran of the Gadsden Fire Department, to assistant chief marks a first for the city — the first Black assistant chief in the department's history.
Morris was promoted by the Gadsden Civil Service Board, which is appointed by the governor and charged by law with the hiring, firing, promoting and disciplining of Gadsden firefighters and police officers.
“While the Civil Service Board looks at a variety of factors in their decisions — which, by law, are uninfluenced by the administration — I am appreciative of this historic moment for Gadsden,” Mayor Craig Ford said. “In other areas of city government, I am striving to ensure that we not only have the best-qualified leaders in place, but that we also have a city government which is reflective of its citizenry."