Lowry named as Flomaton police chief

The Flomaton Town Council unanimously approved Mayor Jim Johnson's recommendation to hire Dereck Lowry as the town's new police chief, following the resignation of Chief Dane NeSmith. Councilwoman Kay Wagner was absent at the special meeting.

Johnson thanked all those who applied for the position and said he narrowed the list to four and interviewed each candidate and said he decided to recommend Lowry.

Lowry, 43, currently serves as a lieutenant over investigations with the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff's Department.

Lowry told the council that he was from Flomaton and his children went to Flomaton schools. At the age of 20 he joined the Army and spent eight years in the military. In 2009 he went to work with his father as a mechanic and joined the sheriff's office in 2015 as a correctional officer and in 2016 he graduated from the police academy and began as a patrol officer.

Prior to the vote, Councilwoman Lillian Dean asked Lowry what was one goal he had for the Flomaton Police Department.

Lowry said he's heard a lot of things but his goal is wanting to see a professional police department.

"I want the people to respect the police department," Lowry told the council. "I want us to be looked at as a professional police department."

Mayor Johnson thanked Police Capt. John Skipper for the job he did leading the department after NeSmith's resignation on May 30.

Johnson told the council Lowry would take over as chief on June 3 with a starting salary of $62,500.

While in the Army, Lowry spent time in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Once he joined the sheriff's office, he worked as a patrol officer for three years and a property crime investigator for one year. He was sergeant in narcotics for four years and served as lieutenant in investigations for the year.