Police Chief Joseph Daughtry is taking a $14,000 pay cut to fill the same position in Yazoo City.
Yazoo City aldermen unanimously hired Daughtry during their meeting Monday, offering him a salary of $95,000, Jamie Patterson, publisher for the Yazoo Herald, told The Dispatch.
His salary in Columbus is $109,000.
The board also set Daughtry’s swearing-in ceremony for July 27. Patterson said Daughtry will become Yazoo City’s 11th police chief in the last 12 years.
Daughtry is out on medical leave, according to Columbus officials, and did not return calls or messages from The Dispatch on Tuesday.
Some council members, including Ward 5’s Gary Jefferson, first learned of Daughtry’s pending departure through social media.
“It is disappointing to find out the way we did,” Jefferson told The Dispatch on Tuesday. “Also for a man to be on medical leave and having surgery, and then (us) finding out that he accepted a job in another city … it just shows to me what (little) compassion he has for the citizens of Columbus to let all of us find out the way we did.”
Daughtry was passed over in February for the Jackson Police Department chief job after being publicly named a finalist.
Since then, Jefferson said he has felt it was clear Daughtry wanted to leave.
“It was always a search after Jackson, if not … before Jackson,” Jefferson said. “… We don’t want to hold somebody here that don’t want to be here. From Jackson to now, you’re saying you don’t want to be here, for whatever reason. You say that you’re holding the standard for the police officers, but you don’t want to be held to the same standard yourself.”
Columbus hired Daughtry in November 2022, and his tenure has been harried by high turnover and, at times, claims of creating a culture of low morale.
In June, The Dispatch received a letter penned by officers wishing to remain anonymous calling for Daughtry’s removal. Shortly after, Jefferson said the council instructed Daughtry to form a 90-day plan by Aug. 1 that would address officer retention, morale and departmental performance, among other things.
“I don’t want to say that’s what ran him off,” Jefferson said. “… (His hiring in Yazoo City) was kind of quick, so that gives me the perception it was already in the making.”
Ward 6 Councilman Jason Spears was a bit more gracious toward Daughtry’s time. However, he said he did share Jefferson’s concerns related to the outgoing chief’s penchant for job hunting.
“Certainly I appreciate Chief Daughtry’s service here to the community,” Spears told The Dispatch. “… He’s done some things well that I think have made an impact locally. I applaud him for his efforts while he’s been here and wish him well on his next chapter.
“… “You’ve got to really be committed to where you’re at and what your role is, so that did give me a lot of concern. … You’ve got to have someone who wants to be here … who understands the tall order of the tasks they’re entrusted to carry out.”
Mayor Stephen Jones released a statement through email acknowledging Daughtry’s departure, as well as the mayor’s intent to ask the council to appoint Assistant Chief Garland Ward as interim chief.
“Assistant Chief Ward brings decades of experience, professionalism, and a steady hand to this role,” Jones’ statement reads. “I have every confidence in his ability to lead the department during this transition.
“… The Mayor’s Office extends its congratulations to Chief Daughtry on his new appointment,” the statement continues. “The City of Columbus remains committed to supporting the Columbus Police Department as they continue their mission of protecting and serving the community.”
Ward 2 Councilman Roderick Smith released a statement on Facebook thanking Daughtry for his service and assuring citizens their neighborhoods would remain “safe, protected and supported during this transition.”
Ward 4 Councilwoman Lavonne Harris declined to comment until receiving official notice from Daughtry. Vice Mayor Ethel Stewart, of Ward 1, and Ward 3 Councilman Rusty Greene did not return calls or messages from The Dispatch on Tuesday.
What’s next?
Spears said the search for the next chief should be thorough, and it should begin with gathering feedback from existing officers.
“That internal mindset would shed some light into what characteristics we need to be evaluating and looking for in the search process,” he said.
Jefferson agrees the process should not be hurried, and he supports appointing an interim chief in the meantime.
Both Spears and Jefferson are open to considering internal and external candidates.
What Jefferson made very clear to The Dispatch, however, is that he wants this council’s criteria and priorities to differ from those of the last council, which hired Daughtry.
“This council might want to see something different than what the other council did,” he said. “I would hope so anyway.”
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
