JPD officers request investigation into promotions, reassignments

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - Eleven Jackson police officers are asking the Civil Service Commission to investigate their reassignments or other employees' promotions within the Jackson Police Department. They and their attorneys formally requested the commission’s help at the commission’s regular monthly meeting on Thursday morning in Jackson.

Six of the officers claim they were reassigned after they were involved in use-of-force cases and have not been allowed to return to active duty: Rakasha Adams, Desmond Barney, Roy Dickerson, Lincoln Lampley, Albert Taylor and Anthony Veasey.

The other five accuse JPD of unfair promotional practices: Randy Avery, Sequerna Banks, Barbara Folsom-McNeal, Donald Gater and Jessie Robinson.

An attorney representing eight of the officers says the ones who were reassigned just want their old jobs back.

“They’ve been cleared by every avenue that we know of that Jackson Police Department policy requires, but they’re still not returned to duty," said attorney Francis Springer, who is representing the officers through the Southern States Police Benevolence Association. "The city of Jackson is short enough police officers. They need everybody they can on the street. These officers are trained. They’re veteran officers, and they need to be back on the street.”

The Civil Service Commission will now decide whether to launch a formal investigation into the officers' complaints.

3 On Your Side has asked JPD for comment, and we’ll let you know if and when we hear back.