NEWS

Citizens weigh in on JPD chief nominees during forum

Dustin Barnes
The Clarion-Ledger
Citizen listen during the Police Chief Community Engagement Forum.

With an announcement expected by the end of the week, Jackson is likely to have a nominee in place to take over the vacant police chief position. But Mayor Tony Yarber has added another step in the nomination process: public forums.

In a first for many Jacksonians' memories, the two finalists up for the job – interim JPD Chief Lee Vance and Canton's Assistant Police Chief Juan Cloy – went before residents twice on Monday to discuss their goals for fighting crime and an image that has plagued the capital city for years.

Parthenia Merritt was one of the first residents to show up at the second forum at Westside Community Center in West Jackson. While she wasn't sure which candidate she would support at the time, she said she needed to know more on their background.

"Is he capable for the job? What are his priorities?" she asked, adding that crime is her biggest concern for Jackson.

"People are scared to come here, and we're the capital city," she said. "Get (crime) resolved, and I can deal with everything else."

The first forum – held at noon at the Smith Robertson Museum – was packed with several visitors peering at the two candidates from outside in the hallway.

"I think this will help create synergy with the city to work and decrease crime," said Terri Moore, pastor of Freedom Ministries International Church in Jackson.

Moore said Yarber's forum can help get citizens involved even more with fighting crime, a vital tool for combatting criminal behavior.

Her preferred candidate, she said, is Vance because she has worked with him in her capacity as a chaplain for the police department. "I've seen how humble he is, how accessible, his love for Jackson," said Moore.

Jackson resident Linda Taylor and her husband both attended the forum at noon Monday because they said they hadn't ever had a chance to meet with a potential JPD chief nominee in the past.

"It gives us (residents) the feeling that we have input as well," she said. "So then we are letting him know our position."

"It's the chance to them both up close and personal," said Alexander Taylor of the potential nominees. "Usually you don't know who they even are until the 6 o'clock news."

Linda Taylor said she too already had a preferred candidate.

"I grew up with Lee Vance," she said. "He comes from a good family and I've known him my whole life.

"I was very impressed with the other young man (Coy), but I know Lee personally."

The public forums have been a part of Yarber's promise to be more transparent with his constituents.

"The job of police chief, in any urban city, is actually a job that is as important as the mayor's job," Yarber said on Monday shortly after the first forum. "In terms of (public relations), in terms of who is the face of the city, a lot of times it is that chief.

"In light of a lot of things that have happened around the country in the last 24-36 months, it's important that our citizens know they are able to trust whoever that police chief is."

Resident Jessica Adams said the process is liberating.

"We've needed to have some input for a while and at least be able to question what's going on," she said.

The last forum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at New Hope Baptist Church Community Life Center at 5202 Watkins Drive.

Contact Dustin Barnes at dbarnes2@gannett.com or (601) 360-4644. Follow @DustinCL on Twitter.