JONESTOWN — Jonestown Mayor Kenny Lester announced Monday he expects the city to have a full police department of at least three officers by the beginning of July.
The first step in bringing back a full police department was taken when the council voted to allow police chief Rico Smith to work 32 hours per week on the condition he provides a schedule of his hours to Lester. This came following a 45-minute executive session.
Officers Byron Vaughan and Stephen James were laid off but are expected to be reinstated by July.
Smith is currently the only law enforcement officer in the Jonestown police department and had only been able to work 20 hours per week for several months.
Lester said some of Smith’s new hours will be on weekends. He did say the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Office has been helpful in providing assistance with two officers dedicated to Jonestown on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
One member of the audience said there should be police officers in Jonestown around the clock.
The mayor said there have not been officers patrolling the town in several years.
“The thing is, we don’t have a lot of money and we were definitely in a financial hole,” he said. “We’re trying to come out of a hole.”
Jonestown resident Evelyn Veasley asked for clarification on a timeline.
“When do we start looking at trying to hire Jonestown, Miss., police officers? I understand when money becomes available. I do understand that process from a financial process, but I just want to know your goals and your timeframe.
“I can’t police myself? Maybe there are people in this town.. and they can do that. More power to you, but that’s not something I want to take on as an added responsibility... as a law enforcement officer.”
Lester told Veasley the timeframe to have a full police department was July.
“We are going to hire more officers,” he said. “We have other obligations that we are trying to financially clear up before we hire officers back.”
Lester clarified after the meeting he did not want Smith to work 32 hours a week. He had suspended Smith in the past for what he believes was insubordination, but the council reinstated him. He then cut the police chief’s weekly hours down to 20 until Monday night.
However, the council voted to allow Smith to work the 32 weekly hours.
“The last time I gave him 32 hours, he worked Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,” Lester said. “Twelve hours on Monday, 12 hours on Tuesday and eight hours on Wednesday. I don’t want that to be 32 hours.”
Clarksdale resident Delvin Frazier, a 2015 Horn Lake High school graduate, attended Monday’s council meeting hoping to be hired as an officer and start in August after he finishes training at Moorhead Police Academy.
However, the council voted not to hire Frazier at this time, but he could be part of the department in August.
