Jackson Mayor introduces RaShall Brackney as new police chief

Jackson Mayor John Horhn introduced RaShall Brackney as the city’s new police chief Tuesday, praising her as the right person for Jackson. The announcement came a week after Horhn selected her for the position.

Brackney brings more than three decades of law enforcement leadership, academic work, and community-focused public safety experience. She is a retired Pittsburgh Bureau of Police veteran, having served over 30 years in various command roles. She also served as chief of police at George Washington University and in Charlottesville, Virginia.

According to the Washington Post, Brackney was hired as Charlottesville’s first Black female police chief in 2017 and was fired in 2021. She filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination, claiming her firing was retaliatory and related to her efforts to reform the department. A U.S. District Court dismissed the suit in 2022, citing insufficient evidence to support her claims, and Brackney expressed no surprise at the ruling.

Brackney stated her focus as Jackson’s police chief will be to listen to the community and build relationships. She emphasized the importance of assessing whether officers are equipped to serve and whether the city is delivering the level of service residents deserve. She described her priorities as stabilizing the department, supporting officers, protecting neighborhoods, and maintaining accountability.

The Jackson City Council must confirm Brackney before she begins her duties. The confirmation vote is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24. She will succeed interim police chief and Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones, who took over after Joseph Wade resigned late last year. Some council members expressed reservations about her appointment, with Councilwoman Tina Clay stating she preferred a candidate from within the Jackson Police Department. Despite this, officials anticipate her confirmation.

Source: Original Article