JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – During Tuesday’s Jackson City Council meeting, councilmembers took up the issue regarding a contract for the Jackson police chief, the assistant police chiefs and the fire chief.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba previously vetoed the contract stipulation.
The issue was presented by Councilman Kenneth Stokes, Ward 3, on Tuesday, June 18. Stokes has said if Police Chief Joseph Wade has a contract, it will untie his hands and let him fight crime without micromanagement.
The majority of the council, excluding Councilman Aaron Banks, Ward 6, and Brian Grizzell, Ward 4, voted to override the mayor’s veto.
“Let me be clear. Chief Wade, his staff, and our Fire Chief have my unwavering and utmost support. The suggestion that our Chiefs need a contract was a poor attempt to create an issue when there is none. This is no more than a solution in search of a problem. The most important piece of information for everyone to remember is that no one has never requested a contract, nor does any Chief desire one,” said Lumumba.
“I appreciate the support of the council in my abilities. I have never sought a contract, and I have always been supported by the Mayor, his administration, and the entire City Council. I’m grateful for the opportunity and the continued support,” stated Wade.
Grizzell said in part, “My vote against overturning the veto is consistent with state law, which stipulates that in our form of government, the Fire Chief and Police Chief are under the direction of the Mayor. Assistant chiefs are under the direction of their respective chief. Additionally, putting a city employee under contract could potentially deprive them 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 crucial that their service time is properly calculated into our state’s public retirement system.”