Mayfield declares intent to keep Vicksburg Police Chief Penny Jones

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Ward 1 Alderman Thomas “TJ” Mayfield, Jr. announced at the first meeting of the City Board that he will support keeping Vicksburg Police Chief Penny Jones.

In his opening comments, Mayfield said, “I just want the public to know. I don’t want you to hear it from anybody else. I don’t want you to hear it through the grapevine or have any rumors. With the police department, I do have support for Chief Jones, and I wanted everybody to know that. And if we can’t agree on that, I’ll put my support behind former Deputy Chief Charlie Hill.”

In an exclusive interview with the Vicksburg Daily News on the topic, Mayfield said, “The crime isn’t solely on the shoulders of the Chief of Police. I think, Chief Jones, we can do a better job with some things in the department. I think every chief, whether it’s the fire or police department, should have the right, the opportunity to pick their deputy chief so we can take politics out of their department.”

Mayfield was not specific on how the city could structure that under our current format, but was adamant, “City hall needs to stay out of police and the fire department. That’s my firm belief, whoever the chief is going to be.”

“We have people who put their lives on the line every single day for the citizens and constituents that we have. So I don’t want somebody such as myself to sit in an office at city hall and tell men and women who fight crime how to do their job.”

Mayfield agreed that Chief Jones has mixed support in the community, and there are concerns at the police department.

“I’m not saying the police department doesn’t have its issues,” said Mayfield. “Whoever that chief is going to be, we have to work progressively to ensure we are getting things out on time. We’re allowing people to see full transparency within our police department.”

Mayfield said, that whoever is chosen as the next chief that transparency is key.

“I want people to understand; even if it is not Chief Jones, we have to do a better job at ensuring our police department is transparent with the community,” said Mayfield. “It is impossible for us to make people feel safe if they don’t feel transparency from the people that are in leadership.”

Chief Jones shut off public access to hearing the police scanners. Something that citizens in Vicksburg had enjoyed since scanners were invented. When asked if he would turn the scanners back on Mayfield said, “I’m unsure. I’ll have to meet with the chief and see what’s the best course of action for that. Again, I’m not at the police department and I’m not sure how that impacts their job day to day.”