UPDATE: 2:30 p.m.: Houston County Sheriff Cullen Talton says he's agreed to help temporarily run Centerville's police department until they can hire a new chief.
He told 13WMAZ's Lorra Lynch Jones he has agreed to loan the city an officer and a "backup" to run their department.
But he won't formally sign an agreement until he meets with Centerville officials on Monday, he says.
Talton said Centerville had replaced Edward Tucker, their director of police services, and another officer, but he said he didn't know why.
"We were requested to help until they find a chief," he said.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The city of Centerville is asking the Houston County Sheriff's Office for help through a police-department staffing shortage.
Centerville Mayor John Harley signed an agreement this morning asking for deputies to help out for at least the next 90 days. At midday, Sheriff Cullen Talton had not yet signed the agreement, according to his office.
This morning, Harley wouldn't explain the agreement further.
He also wouldn't comment on the status of Edward Tucker, the city's director of police services. Tucker is a former council member who was hired for the job in July, even though he's not a certified law officer.
A copy of the agreement, provided by Harley, says, "Centerville is in need of a certified and qualified public safety officer(s) to oversee and manage its police department temporarily."
Read the agreement here.
The agreement signed Wednesday morning says Talton will supply one or more officers, but that they will be under joint supervision of the sheriff and the city.
We could not reach Tucker for comment this morning.
