BOYKINS—The Boykins Town Council during a special Tuesday meeting voted unanimously to hire a retired Portsmouth homicide detective as its new town sergeant.

George Brozzo will replace Willie Culpepper, who resigned in September six months after he was hired as the town’s sole officer. Culpepper submitted his resignation during a special council meeting, which was held to review his probationary period. He said he wanted to pursue a career in the ministry.

Brozzo will be paid $27,000 annually and get health insurance and a retirement package. He will begin working Nov. 22.

“We felt like George has an excellent background in law enforcement and will be an asset to this town,” said Mayor Spier Edwards. “He’s well qualified.”

A Southampton County resident, Brozzo retired in December 2008 from the Portsmouth Police Department after 20 years service. He currently works for the major crimes unit with the Petersburg Police Department.

A native of Governor, N.Y., Brozzo served in the Army for four years, where he was a military police officer.

He and his wife, Yvette, are the parents of sons Corey, 21, and James, 16.