The police chief of Mississippi’s capital city has announced plans to retire after nearly three decades with the department.
James Davis released that he will be stepping down from the Jackson Police Department during a press conference on Friday.
“I want to give the glory to God for allowing me to make it to 30 years of service to the city that I love in the Jackson Police Department,” Davis explained. “I have had the privilege of serving nearly five years as your chief. Serving this role has been a great honor, the greatest honor of my professional career, and I am truly humbled by the accomplishments that we have made in the department over the years.”
Davis spent his first 10 years with JPD as a patrol officer before becoming the first African American range master at the JPD Training Academy.
From there, he came up through the ranks of the department to be named sergeant, followed by lieutenant of Precinct 3. Davis then became district commander, deputy chief, and assistant chief before being appointed by Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba to chief in 2018.
Lumumba reappointed Davis to continue serving as Jackson Police Chief three years later.
After receiving a nearly split vote from the Jackson City Council in 2021, Davis served as police chief while the city broke a record for number of homicides. A total of approximately 160 homicides were reported throughout the city, with the next year totaling 136.
Assistant Chief Joseph Wade has been selected to serve as interim chief in the meantime
