Lexington’s new police chief, David Simmons, has prioritized restoring trust within the community following months of leadership changes and a federal investigation that prompted police reforms, according to sources.
Appointed by the Board of Aldermen on May 5, Simmons is the fourth police chief in six months. His appointment came less than three months after the board named Kenneth Gee as interim chief while searching for a permanent replacement. Simmons acknowledged the department’s lack of stability and said he was brought in to rebuild relationships both within the police force and the community.
“The community needed someone that they could trust and build a relationship with. They knew me from the past, everyone knew me from around here,” Simmons said Tuesday. “They wanted someone they could trust and be treated right by.”
Simmons has worked in law enforcement since 2005 across Holmes County and Yazoo City. He previously served as a patrol officer in Lexington in 2008. Since becoming chief, he has focused on revising the department’s policies and recruiting more officers, which he said requires higher pay. He also serves part-time as chief of the Cruger Police Department, a role he has held since 2015.
In addition to his law enforcement career, Simmons is an emergency medical technician, has worked with the Holmes County School District for over a decade, owns a consulting business, and sits on the board of the Dr. Arenia C. Mallory Community Health Center, which operates seven clinics across Holmes, Leflore, and Madison counties.
The last permanent police chief in Lexington, Charles Henderson, was dismissed in January amid a federal investigation that found constitutional violations and issues with jail practices. The department has also faced allegations of discriminatory policing, excessive force, and retaliation, leading to lawsuits including one filed by the organization JULIAN.
Henderson became chief in 2022 after the firing of former chief Sam Dobbins, who was dismissed following a leaked recording of him using racial and homophobic slurs. Simmons emphasized his commitment to equitable treatment and accountability, stating, “You will be treated right when you come to Lexington in the city, but you also will be held accountable.”
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
