Starkville’s board of aldermen has no immediate plans to discipline any of the officers involved in the decision not to arrest or ticket a part-time Columbus patrolman stopped for drunk driving on March 9.
Starkville Police Chief Frank Nichols, in a press conference March 21, said his officers let Columbus Police Department Officer Louis Alexander go out of “professional courtesy” — something he indicated was common nationwide among law enforcement agencies when they stop other police officers. He said the decision not to ticket Alexander was made between the patrolman, a sergeant, a lieutenant and a captain, though he did not release the officers’ names.
Through a Freedom of Information Act request, The Dispatch has learned Lt. Michael Edwards and Sgt. Steven Shane Kelly were the only officers of their respective ranks listed on the duty roster for the shift when the stop took place. Patrolman Prinston Henderson initiated the stop.
Neither of SPD’s two captains — Mark Ballard or Troy Outlaw — are listed on the duty roster. Outlaw, however, is the captain who oversees patrol.
Nichols called the decision to let Alexander go “bad judgment” and adamantly stated his department would no longer extend such professional courtesy. He also announced March 21 a change in SPD policy that would require officers to arrest drivers when alcohol is detected on traffic stops rather than leave that decision to the officer’s discretion.
The stop
Henderson pulled over Alexander at about 12:37 a.m. March 9 on Highway 12 near the C Spire store after observing the driver in a pickup swerving in and out of his lane, according to body and dash camera footage released by the city.
Alexander, upon request, identifies himself as a Columbus police officer. A portable breath test detected the presence of alcohol, and at one point Henderson tells a female passenger who was with Alexander: “I don’t think he’s drunk. I know he’s drunk.”
During the stop, Henderson radios a sergeant and asked how to handle the situation.
The sergeant is heard instructing Henderson to take Alexander back to the station and he’d meet the two there to take care of it.
Nichols confirmed Alexander was allowed to go home — without a ticket or an arrest — with another Columbus employee who came to pick him up. CPD Chief Fred Shelton previously confirmed to The Dispatch that Investigator Reginald Adams picked up Alexander in Starkville in an unmarked police car.
The stop only became public after The Dispatch learned about it and broke the story March 16. Columbus City Council later suspended Alexander for 30 calendar days for “conduct unbecoming.”
No board action planned
No personnel matters have yet been listed for executive session consideration for this evening’s board of aldermen meeting, and multiple city officials have indicated they would not pursue any discipline for the officers without Nichols’ recommendation.
“I’ve always trusted Chief Nichols’ judgment on any type of matter,” Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver said. “… Whatever he thinks, we’re not going to get too involved. At this point I think that’s sufficient. I don’t see any discipline. If anything, it’ll just be a procedural change and I think he’s addressed it.”
Likewise, Mayor Lynn Spruill and Ward 4 Alderman Jason Walker said they are satisfied with Nichols’ response.
“I think the chief is taking exactly the right step,” Spruill said. “We did it. We shouldn’t have done it and we’re not going to do it again.”
Walker added: “I’m satisfied that this will be behind us and the police department will be able to move on.”
However, Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins, who serves as vice mayor on the board, said he hasn’t yet seen any SPD policy change. He indicated he would like to know more about what happened and what corrective measures Nichols has since implemented.
“I would like to say the allegations are serious,” Perkins told The Dispatch. “But I’m not going to elaborate on anything related to personnel.
“I haven’t seen any documents, videos or evidence,” he added. “I don’t want to pass any judgment. All I’ve heard is media reports. I don’t want to engage in conjecture or speculation. As an attorney, I would like to be totally and completely briefed. In making a decision, I’ll make it on the facts and on the law.”
Nichols told The Dispatch he would not discuss officer discipline publicly because “it’s a personnel matter.”
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