February 2, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
A long time member of the Smithville Police Department has been promoted.
Detective James Cornelius was recently elevated to the rank of Lieutenant by Chief Mark Collins and the promotion was formally approved by the Aldermen Monday night.
Chief Collins said Cornelius will fill the position held for former Lieutenant Detective Matt Holmes who retired last May.
“Detective Cornelius will be a fine Lieutenant. He has already shown character in that position and the things he will do. He will be a true asset to the police department as Lieutenant,” said Chief Collins.
Meanwhile the Smithville Aldermen Monday night approved the current list of volunteer firefighters and officers serving the department for the city in 2021 as recommended by Chief Charlie Parker
Members of the department are as follows: Chief Charles Parker, Deputy Chief Hoyte Hale, Captain Jeff Wright, Lieutenant Danny Poss, Lieutenant John Poss, Lieutenant Donnie Cantrell; William Brown, Chaplain Wallace Caldwell, Gary Johnson, James R. Hunt, Stephanee Wright, Glen Lattimore, Cory Killian, Photographer/Auxiliary Greg Bess, Becky Atnip, Auxilary Shawn Jacobs, Bradley Johnson, Dalton Roberts, C.J. Tramel, Kim Johnson, Seth Wright, Ryan Herron, Dillon Hicks, Jeff Prisock, Andrew Cooper, Auxiliary Kayla Williams, Dakota Nokes, and Auxiliary Mark Riggsbee.
The aldermen also voted to approve the recent hiring of John P. Poss to fill a vacancy as mechanic in the public works department. Poss is not the city volunteer firefighter John Poss.