The Maplesville Town Council approved the hiring of two full-time police officers at a council meeting Monday, bringing the police department up to five full-time officers.

Police Chief Todd Ingram recommended Keith Avery and Bridgette Ellis for the positions after both had served as part-time officers for several months.

Council members Hal Harrison, Sheila Hall and Richard Davis voted in favor of Avery and Ellis as full-time officers, with Hilda Atchison and Patty Crocker abstaining from the vote because of having relatives in the police department.

Prior to its decision Monday, the council had approved hiring Avery and Ellis as part-time officers in March after full-time officer Casey O’Farril resigned.

In April, the council met in executive session to discuss Avery and Ellis as candidates for the department’s fourth and fifth full-time officer positions but decided not to fill the previously held positions until everyone had more time to review the budget.

Instead, the council agreed to retain both candidates as part-time officers to work with the town’s three full-time officers for another month.

Along with two additional full-time police officers, the council approved Cory Philips as a reserve officer.

Council members also approved the purchase of a police car to add to its existing six cars and to replace one totaled by the town’s insurance company.

Ingram recommended purchasing a 2013 Ford Interceptor sedan for $21,767.

Town Clerk Sheila Haigler said after the town met its $500 deductible, the insurance company paid $13,581.67, which the town will pay toward the Ford Interceptor.

The council approved paying the remaining balance on the car with money from Maplesville’s general fund and paying for the car’s necessary police equipment with money collected from the Safe Streets Act.

Haigler opened bids on a 1998 GMC Z71 Sierra pickup truck seized by the town this year, and the council accepted the highest bid of $2,200 from Ron Garrett.