City in southern Covington County has its first permanent police chief in two years.

Over the last decade, Leo Bedsole Jr. has been an agent with the Alabama Beverage Control

Prior to that, he served as a policeman and worked as a Covington County Sheriff's deputy.

Chief Bedsole says his top priority is to reestablish a strong relationship between the community and the police force.

Florala has around 2,000 residents; it has a ten-member police department, seven full and three part-time members.