Blacksburg town officials took little time Tuesday in granting a local resident a place on the municipality's police force.

Town Council along with Blacksburg Police Chief Jamie Ham decided to hire local fireman and former Gaffney Police Department auxiliary officer Brandon Heath Dorsett during council's regularly scheduled meeting.

Several people had applied for the job but officials felt Dorsett was the most qualified.

"There were many good applications, but none of them had done certified police work," Blacksburg Mayor David Hogue said. "(Dorsett) was the best candidate and was the most qualified, and that's why he was chosen."

With Dorsett's hiring, there are now 12 members of the Blacksburg Police force.

But the assistant police chief's position remains unfilled, left vacant by the departure of Al Phillips, who now works for the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.

"We may be one or two jobs under our maximum," Hogue said. "Due to the budget crunch the town's been under recently, we chose not to hire anyone until we felt it was necessary to do so."

Hogue said several of the town's recently hired officers will not hit the streets until they complete officer's school.