Selma Police Chief Spencer Collier spoke to a packed audience at the Dallas county Family Resource Center during a breakfast Friday.

Collier, who has been on the job since late January, updated the crowd of civic and business leaders on his time with the department.

“We didn’t get where we are as far as a public safety issue overnight, and we are not going to fix it overnight, but we are going to take a bite of that apple every day,” Collier said. “That’s what I tell my command staff every day.”

So far this year, Selma has recorded one homicide after having 17 in 2016. But Collier said the department has seen an increase in people shooting into homes and occupied dwellings.

“I’ve never seen it to this level. The truth is it looks like it’s the same set of individuals doing this continually,” Collier said.

Collier said the community has been welcoming, and he senses an interest in the department and improving public safety.

“This is the most welcoming city I’ve ever taken interest in. Every day, a citizen drops by or an association stops by to say hello. It doesn’t happen that way all over if you guys don’t know that,” Collier said. “That’s a sign that I believe the community wants public safety to improve but also understands that it may take a little while. Things are improving every day. I can assure you of that.”

Collier came to Selma most recently after leading the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. He had been doing some consulting work but said he knew he wanted to get back into law enforcement.

“I knew where my heart was and that was in law enforcement. I started looking around. I knew the mayor and found out this was a possibility,” Collier said.

Collier and Selma Mayor Darrio Melton served together in the Alabama House of Representatives.

Friday’s 60-Minute Coffee was sponsored by the city of Selma, the Selma and Dallas County Economic Development Authority, the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Hardee’s.