ANNISTON, AL — During a called meeting held at 9:00 a.m. CT, the Anniston City Council voted 5–0 to acknowledge and accept the resignation of City Manager Kenneth Free.
In a statement following the vote, council members expressed appreciation for Free’s service to the City of Anniston. During his tenure, Free worked with city staff and leadership to support the daily operations of municipal government and the delivery of services to residents. The council thanked him for his contributions and wished him success in his future endeavors.
To maintain continuity in city operations during the transition, the council appointed Anniston Police Department Captain Matthew Caballero to serve as Interim City Manager.
Caballero brings more than two decades of public service experience to the role. He has served with the Anniston Police Department for more than 22 years and currently holds the position of Uniform Patrol Division Commander, where he oversees the department’s largest division and supervises more than 40 officers.
Throughout his career with the department, Caballero has held several leadership positions, including Investigative Division Commander, Special Operations Lieutenant, Patrol Lieutenant, and Training and Inspections Sergeant. In those roles, he has worked closely with city administration and department leadership while managing major operations, investigations, and personnel.
In addition to his professional experience, Caballero holds a Juris Doctor from Faulkner University’s Jones School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Faulkner University.
Caballero and his wife, Claire Starling Caballero, have lived in Anniston for more than 22 years and have two children, Olivia, 22, and Ian, 20.
While Caballero will provide leadership in the interim, the Anniston City Council indicated that it plans to conduct a comprehensive process to identify the city’s next permanent City Manager. In the coming weeks, the council will begin working with a nationally recognized municipal executive search firm specializing in recruiting local government leaders.
City officials stated that the firm will assist with conducting a nationwide search to identify candidates with the experience, vision, and leadership necessary to guide Anniston forward.
