SUMMERDALE, Ala. - The Summerdale Town Council unanimously approved a motion Monday to name Frankie "Eddie" Ingram the town's new police chief.

The council announced Ingram was the pick for the chief position at last week's council work session. The position pays $50,000 a year, Summerdale Mayor David Wilson said, and will last until the end of the mayor's term in 2012.

After the vote, Ingram took the oath of office and spoke to the council and crowd about how excited and happy he is to receive the opportunity and his plans for the department.

"You will have the hardest working police chief you've ever had," Ingram said.

Current police officer T.J. Palkovic also was in attendance, and was one of the applicants interviewed for the police chief position. When asked if he was disappointed in not receiving the appointment, he said, "not at all."

"I'm happy with the decision. He's a great guy and I'm happy to be working with him," he said.

Ingram promised the town the police department, while small in size, would be efficient and well trained.

"We will have the best-trained law enforcement agency in the state of Alabama by the end of this year," Ingram said.

Ingram's family also was in attendance, including his wife, Lesa Ingram, and some of his kids.

The town had been without a police chief since March 17, the date the council unanimously voted to terminate Dwain Riebeling's employment as chief. The council held a hearing and vote regarding Wilson's request for the termination of Riebeling's employment.

Summerdale did not have an interim police chief, but Lt. Tony Nolfe of the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office helped oversee the department.