Officer, Chief Resignations Leave Miss. City in Policing Lurch

Moss Point Mayor Billy Knight said Monday night that, after meeting with Jackson County supervisors, the county said it could provide additional police protection following the wave of officer resignations.

“Supervisors called me to a meeting to get our understanding of what our needs were, and the sheriff made them aware that they did not need an MOU (memorandum of understanding agreement) to come into our city to provide whatever services we need,” Knight told the board.

Additionally, the mayor informed the board that at least three individuals have expressed interest in serving as interim police chief following Ashley's departure on Friday.

Once an interim chief is appointed from at least “three men” interested in the job, the mayor said that person would meet with Sheriff John Ledbetter to determine what the temporary needs are so that they are covered.

So far, seven sworn police officers — Chief Brandon Ashley among them — have resigned, and more are expected to follow.

City Attorney Randy Pierce said Monday evening the city will decide later if any agreement is needed for general mutal aid in the future, just as Ashley had with the sheriff.

“The mayor is working to make sure a plan is in place to protect the citizens of Moss Point, and that’s going to be done,” Pierce said.

As board attorney, Pierce said, his job is “to make sure we have a cooperative agreement in place, if needed, for public safety reasons.”

To get the ball rolling, Mayor Billy Knight and the Board of Aldermen met on Monday to discuss the matters and also agreed to start advertising for a police chief — one who will not be afforded civil service protection, unlike that protection that Ashley had during his tenure at the helm.

Ashley is leaving after 24½ years with the city, including more than seven as chief. He has accepted a job as a Jackson County patrol deputy. His resignation followed a five-day unpaid suspension for failing to report the arrest of former K-9 Officer Craig Chandler, who was convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence last week.

Ashley appealed to the Civil Service Commission, and the city reinstated his pay and removed the suspension from his record after his attorney, Russell Gill, argued that the police department policy did not require him to report the arrest.

Moss Point had just 15 sworn officers before the resignations. With the others set to leave, the Police Department is woefully understaffed to police the city of a little over 11,000 residents.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said earlier Monday that Mayor Knight told him Moss Point is searching for an interim chief and new police chief. But so far, he hasn’t received what he consider a formal request for assistance.

The mayor said he had met with the sheriff and expressed the needs of the city.

“They haven’t sat down and talked to me seriously about doing law enforcement in Moss Point,” Ledbetter said. “We are still in the same spot that we were in last week.

“I need some answers, too. It would be so much easier if we knew exactly what they wanted us to do.”

However, the sheriff said that as the county’s chief law enforcement officer, he will ensure calls for service in Moss Point are answered and that the city receives adequate police protection after officers leave.

During Tuesday’s meeting, officials thanked Jackson County Supervisor Ennitt Morris for his assistance in assuring proper policing after the officers start leaving.

The Moss Point city attorney said Monday evening that Mayor Knight had a good meeting with Jackson County officials this week and the public safety issue has been addresed.

In addition, the mayor said he had met with the sheriff regarding matters at the Police Department.

The sweeping resignations in Moss Point come as the city grapples with violent crime, including three homicides in two unrelated incidents in the city last week, reports of a barrage of gunfire in the city over the weekend and more.

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