Ellington

The Ledger reports:

Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. does not have a time frame to name an interim replacement for police Chief Robert Moore, but Moore is willing to stay on until his contract expires June 30.

Moore talked to the mayor on Wednesday about the possibility of an interim chief being named, a day after telling The Clarion-Ledger he wanted out and was not going to make any more major decisions.

"I also let him (Johnson) know that I don't have any problems serving out my contract if that is what he desires," Moore said. "The timing of things is sort of up in the air."

Chris Mims, a spokesman for Johnson, said the mayor was not available to the media on Wednesday. Johnson on Tuesday refused an interview request.

"The mayor and I did talk (Wednesday) morning and he said he would name an interim at the appropriate time," Mims said. Johnson did not offer insight into his time frame, Mims said.

Ten different men, counting interims, have led Jackson's police department during the past 15 years. The past six permanent chiefs have each lasted just more than two years.

Either Democratic mayoral candidate Frank Melton, a former television executive who defeated Johnson in last week's primary, or Republican challenger Rick Whitlow, a former television sports director, will select the next chief. The two face off in the June 7 general election.

Full article here.