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Council honors retiring public‑safety leaders and names police conference room after outgoing chief
Summary
Monroe City Council on April 8 adopted resolutions honoring Deputy Fire Chief Gregory W. Collins (30 years) and Police Chief J. Bridal Gilliard (32 years) and approved naming a conference room at the Bobby G. Kilgore Law Enforcement Center for Chief Gilliard.
The City of Monroe on April 8 publicly honored two long‑serving public safety leaders and approved related ceremonial items and a facility‑naming.
Resolutions and presentations: Council adopted a resolution of appreciation for Deputy Chief Gregory Warren Collins, who is retiring after 30 years of service. The mayor and council praised Collins’ role in department modernization, station planning, improving the apparatus fleet and achieving an ISO Class 1 rating for the city. Collins received the customary retiring firefighter helmet and a retirement watch as part of the city’s tradition for staff with 30 years of service.
Police chief recognition and naming: Council also adopted a resolution recognizing Police Chief J. Bridal Gilliard for 32 years of service, noting leadership through the construction and opening of the Bobby J. Kilgore Law Enforcement Center and CALEA accreditation wins. Council voted to approve a resolution finding Chief Gilliard eligible to receive his service sidearm at the symbolic cost of $0.01 (the city's customary ceremonial transfer). Following the recognition, the council approved naming a conference room at the Bobby G. Kilgore Law Enforcement Center the “J. Bridal Gilliard Conference Room.” Presenters said the general services committee had already voted unanimously in favor of the naming; council approved the item after noting procedure corrections required council action.
Why it matters: The actions are ceremonial and formalize the retirements of senior public‑safety officials who led modernization and accreditation efforts. The naming recognizes an outgoing chief’s leadership and gives the community a permanent marker of service.
Votes: Resolutions of appreciation for Deputy Chief Collins and Chief Gilliard and the conference‑room naming were adopted by majority voice/hand vote. Council also approved the customary transfers (helmet and ceremonial 1‑cent transfers) and directed appropriate staff to carry out the presentations.
