FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Changes in how the city handles police escorts of funeral processions have not come easily or without controversy.

The announcement last month by Police Chief Bill Press that his department would end those free escort services has been met by outcry, including Mayor Tim Kant’s threat last week to fire Press if he didn’t follow orders to maintain the service.

And a new presence at recent City Council meetings has been a local funeral home owner, who brought a lawyer to speak for him last week before a large audience of supporters to continue the service.

But the council could eliminate those free services in the next month, and though Gary Wolfe, owner of Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, is preparing for that change, he’s not happy about it.

“We’ve been doing it for 60 years in this city,” Wolfe said of the city’s providing free police escorts for funeral services. “I personally just don’t like change. My goal is to continue doing what we’ve been doing.”

During an interview Monday, Wolfe said he has arranged for two constables from Mobile to handle Fairhope funeral processions at a cost of $250 per funeral, if the city ends the service. Although Mobile’s police department does not provide the service, he said his research confirmed that all city police departments in Baldwin County continue to do so.

Wolfe believes there have been no accidents in the county during escorts, disputing one of the reasons offered for ending the service.

In addition to potential liability against the city, Press also stated safety grounds because the Fairhope Police Department doesn’t have motorcycles better suited for handling escorts. In Mobile, several funeral homes maintain their own motorcycle fleet, which are driven by off-duty officers or others there, Wolfe said.

Press also cited the cost to his department of sending officers to escort funerals, which average two to three a week, as another reason for ending the service.

Wolfe took specific aim at Councilman Rick Kingrea, who plans to introduce an ordinance to end the service at Monday’s council meeting, with exceptions only for police, firefighters, and active-duty military.

“The city of Fairhope is not subsidizing my business,” said Wolfe, disputing what Kingrea said in Saturday’s Fairhope Courier. “They’re subsidizing the families. We don’t make any money off the escorts.”

On Monday, Kingrea, an attorney, didn’t back off his allegation that the city is subsidizing Wolfe’s business.

“I stand 100 percent by the statement,” Kingrea said. “Mr. Wolfe controls the costs of the services he provides.”

Wolfe said he is required to itemize all his costs in funeral services, pursuant to regulations by the Federal Trade Commission. That “funeral rule” requires disclosure of a number of services provided, including cash advances such as for funeral escorts, he said.

“It’s double taxation,” he said, referring to the costs local families will bear if the city decides to end free escort services. “They’ve been paying for it in taxes.”

Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home has locations in Fairhope, Daphne, Foley and Elberta and employs 23 people, according to its Web site.

“I have no intention of suing the city,” said Wolfe, regarding whether the city stops the free police escort service. “But I’m not saying if somebody slanders me, we won’t sue.”