New Fire Chief Randy Gibson is seen here being sworn in as interim fire chief by interim City Manager Harold Haywood this January. Gibson will be sworn in again next week, this time as the permanent police chief.

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The city of Laurinburg has selected Randy Gibson to serve as its permanent fire chief.

Gibson, who had been interim chief, will be officially sworn in by Mayor Tommy Parker during the Laurinburg City Council’s meeting on March 19.

“He was clearly the best candidate from what I was told,” Parker said. “He was well trained and has good credentials.”

City Human Resources Director Amy Martin said that of all the resumes she reviewed, Gibson’s was “definitely the most qualified.”

Gibson graduated last month from UNC-Charlotte’s Fire and Rescue Management Institute.

In addition to his past success and his training, Martin said that Gibson performed “very well” during an interview process with city representatives.

“He was the right choice for the job,” Martin said.

While the city considered many applicants from outside of its employ, Parker said that he was pleased to see an employee hired to the job from within.

“I think it says good things when we can promote from within,” Parker said.

Then Lt. Gibson was appointed to the interim role following the resignation of Fire Chief John Evans two months ago. Gibson was serving as a fire inspector at the time.

Evans, a career police officer, was also serving as the chief of police.

The city has yet to hire a full-time police chief.

Martin said in January that she was “very confident” in interim Chief Kimothy Monroe’s ability to serve until someone could be hired to the role.

The city council will hold an agenda workshop session at 7 p.m. tonight at the W. Charles Barrett Building.

The city will host a “Citizen Input Session” this Thursday at 6 p.m. at the A.B. Gibson Center.