PRICHARD, Alabama -- Moments after the Prichard City Council hired Jerry Speziale as the city's new police chief, he had to get to work.

An unnamed man, who chastised the City Council for leaving the meeting to go into executive session earlier in the evening to discuss the city's contract with Speziale, drew the attention of security officers because he refused to sit down.

Speziale, spotting the disturbance moments after sitting down at the administration's table next to City Attorney Jerome Carter, stood up and walked over to where the man was standing. He assured the security guards everything was OK and then spoke momentarily with the man before giving him a hug.

"I don't care as long as he's here to protect us," the man shouted.

The man then blasted some of the critics of Mayor Troy Ephriam's administration and the Prichard City Council.

"Stop acting like kids," he said.

After the disturbance, Speziale sat back down.

Speziale later spoke to the media, saying that the man was simply wanting to send a message.

"It's about making a safer Prichard," Speizale said.

Check back later at al.com/mobile for a full report on tonight's council action that resulted in Speziale becoming the new police chief in Prichard.

