Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

EDITOR’S NOTE: After publishing this article, it has come to our attention that at least two LaGrange Police Department Assistant Chiefs appear to have held the rank of major prior to Strickland and Robinson.

Oliver Kirby was promoted to the rank of major by former LaGrange Police Chief Gary Shepherd according to an LDN article dated July 22, 1978. Another article dated Aug. 10, 1990, indicated that Trubee Smith had been promoted to major by Shepherd.

—

Five LaGrange Police officers were promoted to high-ranking positions during the mayor and city council meeting on Tuesday night.

New Police Chief Garrett Fiveash promoted longtime police captains Dale Strickland and Andree Robinson to the rank of major. Strickland and Robinson will be the first majors in the department’s history as LPD has never had majors, according to Fiveash.

Strickland recently served as interim police chief during the hiring search that ultimately landed on Fiveash. Strickland has served with the department since 1997. Fiveash said he has relied heavily on Strickland as he learns the ins and outs of the department.

Robinson has served with the department for nearly 39 years, having been hired in 1984, promoted to detective in 1987, to sergeant in 1996, to lieutenant in 2005 and captain in 2007.

Three additional lieutenants were promoted to the rank of captain. Lt. Eric Lohr, Lt. Karen Sanders and Lt. Robert Kirby were promoted to captain.

All five officers were sworn in by Fiveash during the council meeting and a family member pinned their new badges on them.

“This isn’t a reward. This is an earned promotion. They’ve already done the work,” Fiveash said.

“Two months ago, I had the honor to stand up here just like this and be sworn in as your police chief. Since that time, I’ve gotten to know a lot of fantastic people in this community specifically. Some of those individuals have distinguished themselves for me even in the short time by their work ethic, by their dedication and by their many years of service to the city,” he said.

“We’re so proud of all of our officers, and you are all most deserving of the honor and the positions that you have been given,” Mayor Willie Edmondson said.