Vance's Chance: JPD veteran nominated as next chief

Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber nominated Lee Vance to become the city's next police chief, replacing former Chief Lindsey Horton, who resigned in July.

Speaking with the media Friday afternoon, the elated Vance first thanked God, then Yarber and the community for finally fulfilling his goal of helming the city's police department.

Earlier this week, Yarber introduced Vance along with Canton Assistant Police Chief Juan Cloy as his top two nominees for the position. Vance said the feedback from those events helped him this week.

"I know from talking to (Mayor Yarber) that citizen input was very, very important. While I don't know of any scientific polls that were being done," he said. "I know I got overwhelming support from the public."

Vance's nomination will have to go before the City Council for approval. The Council's next scheduled meeting is at 9 a.m. on Monday where members will be discussing the city's upcoming budget. However, Vance's confirmation could occur during any Council meeting or if a special session is called.

The nomination ends a nearly month-long process of naming a permanent police chief for the city following Horton's resignation after several years serving with JPD, including as chief during the last year.

Vance said Yarber's choice demonstrated a showing of faith in his abilities as the next police chief. "He showed a great deal of faith that no other past mayor has shown," Vance said.

While many have supported Vance's nomination, citing his past experience as interim chief, he said that is actually a misnomer. In fact, he said, the only time he's officially been interim chief - as appointed by the mayor - was last month when Yarber called him to take over the temporary role.

The other three times, he's only unofficially help the spot, he said. Friday's announcement, he said, is the answer to a prayer.

"At the end, that's what all this about. We have to serve the people that pay us," said Vance.

"I really believe in strict enforcement, high visibility, and what I'm really going to work on, because quite honestly, numerically we do a very good job of fighting crime in our city," he added. "A lot of our crime is down across the board."