JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Four Jackson city leaders have released statements days after the council voted to override the mayor’s veto of an ordinance requiring labor contracts for the police chief, fire chief and assistant police chief.
On Tuesday, the council voted 5-2 to override Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba’s veto of an ordinance that would have required the city to place chiefs and assistant chiefs under protective agreements to prevent their firing for political purposes ahead of municipal elections.
The order directs the mayor to enter into employment agreements with the chiefs and assistant chiefs once they are confirmed. Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes said upholding the agreements would prevent leaders appointed for the mayor’s political purposes from being fired.
Lumumba said the ordinance was trying to create an issue where none existed.
“Chief Wade, his staff and our fire chief have my unwavering and utmost support. “Suggesting that our bosses need a contract was a poor attempt to create a problem when there isn’t one,” he wrote. “This is no more than a solution in search of a problem.”
Lumumba went on to say that “the most important piece of information that everyone should remember is that no one has ever asked for a contract, nor does any boss want one.”
Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade supported the mayor’s statement, saying he appreciated the council’s support but “never asked for a contract.”
“I have always been supported by the mayor, his administration and the entire city council,” he wrote. “I am grateful for the opportunity and continued support.”
The distribution was postponed on a 5-2 vote. Council members Ashby Foote, Angelique Lee, Vernon Hartley, Virgi Lindsay and Stokes voted in favor.
Councilman Brian Grizzell was one of two people, along with Council President Aaron Banks, to vote against the change.
In a statement, he said his vote was “in accordance with state law, which states that in our form of government, the fire chief and the police chief [is] under the direction of the mayor. Assistant chiefs are under the direction of their respective chief.”
Grizzell, the son of a former Jackson police officer and the brother of Assistant Chief Vincent Grizzell, said he has always stood by the department and offered his full support.
He wrote that the requirement for labor contracts could actually “deprive [the chiefs] of critical rights, privileges, and benefits, such as health insurance, comp time, Social Security benefits, and participation in the state’s Public Employment Retirement System (PERS). This is especially important as all of our chiefs are at or near retirement age and it is essential that their time of service is properly counted in our state’s public pension system.”
Banks also expressed his support for Chief Wade, Fire Chief Willie Owens and Assistant Police Chiefs Grizzell and Wendell Watts.
There is no need for the council to approve an agreement with the chief when he is already chief. I am confident that even during the election, Chief Wade will never do anything that violates the Code of Law Enforcement Ethics,” he wrote. “It is important not to allow the public to be confused by baseless gestures.
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