To paraphrase author Ian Fleming, once is random, twice is a coincidence and three times is a pattern.
What is eight times, then? A habit?
For the ninth time in the millennium, the city of Columbus was searching for a new police chief after Chief No. 8, Joseph Daughtry, resigned to become the police chief in Yazoo City this week, taking a $14,000 pay cut in the process.
It’s not certain whether Daughtry bailed out before he was pushed out, but there are some indications to suggest it. In June, The Dispatch received a letter from an anonymous group of officers calling for Daughtry’s removal. Shortly afterward, 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.
Perhaps seeing the handwriting on the wall, Daughtry went job hunting. He was a finalist for the police chief’s job in Jackson before being chosen as Yazoo City’s chief.
Police departments in cities the size of Columbus don’t attract the cream of the crop when the chief position opens. They often struggle with understaffing and low pay. The staffing and pay issues lead to low morale and high turnover.
The CPD has been chronically understaffed, falling to a dangerously low 27 officers in 2017.
Yet the revolving door in the CPD chief’s office can’t be entirely attributed to circumstances beyond the city’s control. One need only look to Starkville to see a city of similar size that hasn’t suffered such instability.
Over the same period, Starkville has had just three chiefs. When Chief David Lindley retired in 2014, the city promoted Assistant Chief Frank Nichols to chief. When Nichols retired in 2019, the city did the exact same thing, promoting Assistant Chief Mark Ballard. Starkville has been a model of continuity.
That’s why Wednesday’s hiring of Garland Ward is refreshing. Ward has served as the assistant chief for CPD since February 2023.
Columbus city councilmen spoke to the importance of stability when contacted Wednesday. We share their optimism.
Ward brings 26 years of law enforcement experience and, unlike many previous hires, already knows the department and the community. His emphasis on visible leadership, accountability, officer retention and teamwork suggests he understands CPD’s most pressing needs.
There are no guarantees, but Ward appears to be a steady, experienced choice who wants to remain in Columbus. After years of turnover, that is a promising place to start.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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You can help your community
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 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
