A longtime Montgomery Police officer may be hanging up his hat but he’s not getting out of law enforcement.

Major Huey Thornton says he’s preparing for his next police job with Alabama State University.

The school restructured its public safety program which left an opening at the helm of the police department.

As Alabama State University grows, so do the demands on its department of public safety. For that reason The Director of Public Safety, Henry C. Davis Jr., has been promoted to Executive Director of Public Safety which is the equivalent of a Vice President position.

Henry C. Davis, Jr. Executive Director of Public Safety, says, “There are many public safety issues going on from a construction standpoint, I am going to have to focus more on dealing with those issues as well as the executive side of the police department.”

The promotion of Davis, a retired Montgomery Police officer himself, creates an opening for a police chief to manage the department of 30 officers and around 8 staff. It’s a role retiring police officer Major Huey Thornton easily fills.

Major Huey Thornton, Montgomery Police, says, “I’ve had people that have worked for me, I’ve dealt with budgets, I’ve dealt with the public and complaints so I think all of that will help prepare me for the new job.”

Thornton’s official title will be Deputy Director of Public Safety and he will be responsible for dealing with a huge issue at the university: parking, and for hiring more officers to meet the needs of a growing university.

“Basically trying to make sure that the department is set up where it’s prepared to best serve the students and the faculty at A.S.U. and to try to make it better,” said Thornton.

Thornton officially steps into his new role on December 13.

Thornton has 21 years of experience at the Montgomery Police Department.