(BENTON, IL) — The Benton City Council wasted no time Monday night hiring a new fire chief. The city council hired Benton Firefighter Shane Cockrum to be fire chief. Cockrum replaces Sean Faires who resigned earlier this year to be closer to his family in Peoria. Cockrum was sworn-in and began his new duties Tuesday. Jeff Coleman had been serving as acting fire chief. He replaced D.T. Richardson, who resigned as acting fire chief a few weeks ago and was appointed a part-time officer with the Benton Police Department. Richardson was chosen by the last city council as acting fire chief after Faires resigned.