Columbus has a new police chief.
The city council voted 3-2 in Tuesday to name current Waynesboro Police Chief Oscar Lewis III as the new chief of the Columbus Police Department. The move, which was voted on in executive session, came after councilmen spent about two hours interviewing three finalists for the position.
Councilmen, in front of about 80 members of the public, interviewed Lewis, as well as Moss Point Police Chief Arthur McClung and CPD Interim Chief Fred Shelton.
The council, in making its decision, spent less than 10 minutes in executive session.
Columbus Mayor Robert Smith told The Dispatch after the decision had been made that he had intended to allow the council time to consider the interviews and to set a date — probably Wednesday — for a specially called meeting to make a decision.
However, Smith said the council voted 4-1 — only Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin opposed — to move ahead with the decision.
After that, Smith said, Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box introduced a motion to hire Shelton as the new, permanent chief. The mayor said Gavin seconded Box’s motion.
Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens then introduced a substitute motion to instead hire Lewis. That motion was seconded by Ward 4 Councilman Marty Turner. Ward 1 Councilmen Gene Taylor joined Mickens and Turner in voting for Lewis. Box and Gavin opposed.
Reached this morning, Gavin told The Dispatch that while Lewis did a fine job during in the interview, he felt the city would have been better served to “take the proper time to be fair to all the candidates.”
“I think you should always sit down and try to evaluate the candidates and their strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “That’s the way I tried to approach it, so we could pick the best police chief for the city and someone who could be a good fit.”
Gavin also noted that Ward 5 currently does not an elected voice on the council.
There are 3,175 registered voters in Ward 5, according to the statewide Mississippi election system.
Kabir Karriem, who held the Ward 5 seat for six years, was recently elected to the state Legislature. A special election to fill the vacant Ward 5 seat is set for next month.
“Ward 5 did need a voice. I think they needed some representation,” Gavin said. “I think if Councilman Karriem had been there, the vote would’ve been different. Someone new coming in not might not be familiar with all the problems facing the city or the police. There are pros and cons to that position.”
The mayor, following the council’s decision, was diplomatic.
“The council spoke, so that’s the decision,” he said. “I look forward to working with the new chief, which is Chief Oscar Lewis.”
A starting date for Lewis, nor his salary, has been set. Officials should iron further details out in the coming days, according to the mayor.
The city advertised a $72,000 to $75,000 salary range for the chief of police position.
Smith seemed surprised by the hire and, when asked, stop short of saying he was pleased with the council’s decision.
“I work with these guys up here,” he said. “I don’t want animosity either way. I’m going to work with the new person they hired. As to whether I’m pleased with the decision or not, I have to work with the new chief. I’m going to leave it there.”
New chief: Education key
Lewis, 46, previously spent 20 years (1994-2014) with CPD. He started as a patrolman and worked up through the ranks. Later duties included time as a narcotics agent, citizen police academy coordinator, internal affairs investigator and, most recently, a patrol shift commander.
He started working as Waynesboro Police Chief in April 2014.
During his interview before the council Tuesday evening, Lewis said his first task as chief will be setting about work to heal the divide between the police and the community.
“The first thing I would do is try to educate officers and the citizens both,” he said. “I believe education is important. First of all, let the citizens know how the police department operates and the things we are allowed to do and not allowed to do. Also, certainly, the officers of the department — educate them in treating people with respect on how they would want their own family members to be treated.”
‘Somebody the city can grow with’
After the meeting, Mickens told The Dispatch he’s observed a nationwide trend of younger professionals being hired for management positions.
“I’ve just seen so much in Oscar Lewis that the public and citizens of Columbus haven’t seen yet,” Mickens said. “As he develops, with the bleeding and crime we have going on here, I think he’s somebody that the city can grow with. I’m up in age, and Oscar Lewis is around 40 years old. That’s somebody that can be on the force for a long time that can grow with my kids and my grand-kids.”
McClung is 43. Shelton is 56.
Mickens lauded Lewis’ intelligence and faith. He also said he believes Lewis will be loyal to the city.
“With the past two chiefs, I hate to bring it up, but they had all these years and when times got tough on them, they just walked on us,” he said. “McQueen just up and walked. Carleton just up and walked. I decided that my vote is going to go to someone younger. They just can’t quit — he’s got to work. If it gets tough on him he’s not going to vacate the premises.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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