During a brief Wednesday night meeting, the Baileyton Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to hire Sheriff's Lt. Dale Dodds as the town's new police chief.

Dodds succeeds David Shell, who left the position several months ago to take a patrol officer position with the Greeneville Police Department.

The action came on a motion from Alderman Don Kilday after Baileyton Mayor Tommy Casteel told the board that he recommended that Dodds be hired as police chief.

Casteel said he had discussed the position with Dodds earlier and that Dodds had expressed interest in becoming Baileyton's police chief.

Without discussion, the board then voted unanimously to hire Dodds, who is expected to assume his new duties effective June 1.

The regular monthly meeting of the Baileyton Board was adjourned with no other action taken.

After the meeting adjourned, Dodds said he had worked for the Greene County Sheriff's Department for the last 26 years and now is ready for a new challenge.

"I think it will be a good challenge for me," Dodds said. "I believe I have a lot to offer Baileyton and that they have a lot to offer me. Hopefully, we will work well together."

Dodds said the Baileyton Police Department currently has only one full-time officer, John Jones, Jr., and several auxiliary officers.

The newly-hired chief said his last day at the Greene County Sheriff's Department will be May 28.

Mayor Casteel noted that Dodds actually will begin working as Baileyton's police chief on his days off from the sheriff's department prior to June 1.

The mayor also said he planned to work with Dodds prior to June 1 to acquaint the new chief with Baileyton.

Former Baileyton Police Chief David Shell was sworn in as a Greeneville police officer during the Jan. 21 meeting of the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Shell had left the Baileyton Police Department last Dec. 19.