And just like that, the Chief of Police is once again an elected position for the City of Brookhaven.

In April 2023, the Board of Aldermen voted to make the position of police chief an appointed, rather than elected, position. In this original vote, the motion was made by Alderman-at-Large Don Underwood, seconded by Ward 6 Alderman Andre’ Spiller, and supported by Ward 4 Alderman Jeff Henning. Ward 5 Alderman Fletcher Grice voted against the move, and the remaining members — James Magee Jr., Ward 1; Shannon Moore, Ward 2; and Charles Caston Sr., Ward 3 — abstained.

At the time, Underwood said only nine of the state’s 287 chiefs were elected, and the rest appointed. All municipalities with elected chiefs — other than Brookhaven — were located in the northeast portion of the state, making the Home Seekers Paradise the geographical outlier, he said.

In June of 2023, after clarifying that he had thought his abstaining from the first vote counted as an unspoken “no,” Moore moved for the Board to reconsider, and revert to an elected chief. The Board voted 4-3 in favor of the return, pending approval from the Attorney General’s Office.

The vote was split again, with the original three voting for an appointed position, and the three former abstainers joining Grice in voting for an elected position. Approximately one month later, a response from the AG’s Office confirmed the Board could do as they wished in the matter.

Nine months after the reversal vote, the City shifted gears once again. In March 2024, Underwood made a new motion to have an appointed chief of police, seconded by Spiller and supported by Henning. Moore, Caston and Grice voted to remain with an elected chief. Magee was not present at this meeting.

Mayor Joe Cox cast the deciding vote — “It’s a tie. I vote with the affirmative, to go to appointed.”

Tuesday night, Dec. 3, 2024, Alderman Magee introduced a new motion.

“I was not present at the March meeting,” Magee said. “My ward was not represented. I want to make a motion to vote to revert to an elected chief of police.”

After clarification from Board Attorney Bobby Moak that Magee was entitled to make a “fresh motion” on the matter, Moore offered a second. Grice joined them in voting in favor of the motion.

As in every previous vote, Underwood, Henning and Spiller voted against it. Caston, acting as Mayor Pro Tempore in the absence of an ailing Mayor Cox, cast the deciding vote in favor of returning to an elected position.

“The AG opinion says the City Board can do as they please,” Moak said.

Primary Election Day for 2025 municipal elections in Mississippi is Tuesday, April 1. The qualifying period begins Jan. 2. It is unclear if the position can once again yo-yo to an appointed position with less than one month to go until that date.

Current Brookhaven Chief of Police Kenneth Collins has stated previously he did not intend to seek reelection.