JACKSON — Jackson officials on Wednesday released the biographies of four finalists for the city’s next chief of police, a group that includes veteran law enforcement leaders with decades of experience in policing, public safety reform, and community engagement.
The finalists — Dr. RaShall M. Brackney, Major LeJon M. Roberts, Assistant Chief Wendell E. Watts, and Chief Joseph M. Daughtry Sr. — will move forward in the city’s selection process as Jackson seeks a permanent leader for its police department.
Dr. Brackney, a nationally-recognized law enforcement executive and scholar, brings more than 35 years of experience, including three decades with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, where she retired as a commander. She later served as police chief for George Washington University and the City of Charlottesville, Va., leading both agencies through periods of reform and heightened public scrutiny. Brackney holds a Ph.D. from Robert Morris University, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and currently serves as a Distinguished Professor of Practice at George Mason University. Her work centers on procedural justice, harm reduction, and community trust.
Major Roberts, a 27‑year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department, currently serves in the Field Operations Bureau, overseeing some of the city’s most complex and high‑risk divisions, including Special Operations, violent offender apprehension teams, and major event security. He has served as incident commander for large‑scale events such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the NCAA Sugar Bowl. Roberts holds a master’s degree in public administration and is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Staff and Command.
Assistant Chief Watts, a longtime Jackson Police Department leader, oversees patrol operations, investigations, intelligence units, and multiple task forces. With three decades of experience, he previously served as the inaugural police chief for the City of Gluckstadt, where he built the department from the ground up. Watts has also worked in hospital emergency management and has led modernization efforts within JPD, including intelligence‑driven policing and technology expansion. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is pursuing a master’s degree focused on leadership and ethics.
Chief Daughtry, another longtime Mississippi safety leader with ties to Jackson Police Department, brings nearly 30 years of experience and is credited with leading Columbus, Miss., through a historic reduction in violent crime, including the city’s first homicide‑free year in more than two decades. A former president of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police, Daughtry emphasizes accountability, constitutional policing, and community partnerships. He holds a master’s degree in theology and is active in several civic and fraternal organizations.
City officials have not announced a timeline for final selection but said the next chief will be expected to address violent crime, strengthen community trust, and guide the department through ongoing modernization efforts.
