JACKSON – The City of Jackson today announced the final four candidates for the position of Chief of Police for the Jackson Police Department.
RaShall Brackney, Joseph Daughtry, LeJon Roberts and Wendell Watts were selected from an original pool of 32 applicants from across the country, which was narrowed to seven semifinalists and then to the current group of four finalists through a structured, multi-stage review process. To support this critical leadership search, the City engaged the Police Executive Research Forum, a nationally recognized police research and policy organization.
As part of the next phase, Mayor John Horhn will conduct individual in-person interviews with each of the four finalists this week. In addition to the mayoral interviews, a separate Police Chief Search Committee panel, appointed by Mayor Horhn, will hold in-person interviews with each candidate, allowing for multiple perspectives and a deeper evaluation of leadership style, experience, and community-focused policing approaches.
The finalist interviews build on the seven public listening sessions held earlier in the process across the City, where residents shared their priorities and concerns regarding public safety, police accountability, and community engagement. Feedback from those listening sessions has informed both the recruitment and interview phases and will continue to guide the City’s decision-making as the process moves forward.
Mayor Horhn emphasized the importance of both thoroughness and transparency in this search.
“My main priority throughout this process has been to find the right leader to build trust, reduce crime, and strengthen the partnership between our officers and the residents they serve,” said Mayor John Horhn. “We started with 32 applicants from across the country, narrowed that group to seven, and are now down to four finalists after careful review, public listening sessions, and extensive vetting. This has been a deliberate, thorough process, and I am committed to appointing a chief who reflects Jackson’s values, listens to our community, supports our officers, and is ready to get to work on day one.”
Biographies and photos of the four finalists are being provided with this announcement.
Following this week’s interviews with both the Mayor and the Police Chief Search Committee, the City will complete its final evaluations and announce the selected candidate afterward.
Wendell Watts
Joseph Daughtry
LeJon Roberts
Dr. RaShall Brackney
