The Jackson City Council approved RaShall Brackney as the city’s new police chief in a 6-1 vote Tuesday. The confirmation followed nearly an hour of questions, with Council President Brian Grizzell noting he had 35 inquiries but choosing to ask only a few.
Grizzell asked Brackney, Mayor John Horhn’s nominee, to detail how she rebuilt trust as chief of the Charlottesville Police Department in Virginia. Brackney, who served there from 2019 until her abrupt firing in 2022, discussed her efforts to promote transparency and address systemic issues within the department, including posting use-of-force incidents online and hiring an analyst to review officer conduct.
Brackney, a Pittsburgh native, has a background in law enforcement dating back decades. She emphasized her commitment to integrity, saying she would eliminate corruption and foster professional development among officers. She also highlighted her experience firing officers involved in misconduct and her stance against systemic biases.
Only Ward 1 Council Member Ashby Foote voted against her confirmation. The council’s lone phone-in participant was Ward 3’s Kenneth Stokes. Some members expressed concerns about internal issues within Jackson Police, including favoritism and low morale, while others praised Brackney’s reform-minded approach.
Mayor John Horhn proposed a salary of $150,000 for Brackney, with the final amount to be set at the next council meeting. Her appointment comes amid a recent decline in homicides but ongoing concerns over public safety. Brackney pledged to improve collaboration among law enforcement and restore community trust as she takes over the department, which has faced scrutiny over internal problems and allegations of corruption.
Brackney’s selection followed a months-long recruitment process, including community listening sessions. She will be the third woman to lead the department. The city’s previous chief, Joseph Wade, retired in September, with Tyree Jones serving as interim chief. Some council members had preferred internal candidates, but Brackney was chosen for her reform-oriented reputation and leadership experience.
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
