City recruits Mercy spokeswoman

The city of Springfield has hired a Mercy Springfield Communities spokeswoman to join its public relations team.

Lisa Cox, who has worked as a media relations specialist at Mercy for more than two years, has been selected as the Springfield Police Department's public affairs officer, serving as the primary contact for media inquires and news releases. Her appointment is effective today, according to a news release.

Cox is under the direction of Police Chief Paul Williams and city Public Information Officer Cora Scott, who also was hired by the city from Mercy in late 2011 after working with the hospital since 1993.

Cox succeeds Cpl. Matt Brown, who was deployed to Afghanistan. Scott had carried the duties in the interim since Jan. 2 until Cox's selection.

As public affairs officer for the Police Department, Cox is charged with developing, coordinating and administering community and marketing programs to promote programs and services, the release said.