Video: Columbus Names New Chief

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COLUMBUS, MS (WCBI) – Columbus council members have picked Waynesboro Police Chief Oscar Lewis III as the new chief.  The new chief, who started his career in Columbus after a stint in the Air Force was selected following an afternoon of interviews.

Lewis served Columbus police department for 20 years before taking the job as chief in Waynesboro. In a three to two vote, the city council chose to bypass more days to review the other candidates.

Lewis will become the ninth chief of Columbus police in the past 25 years. He said his goals are to continue to add to the department’s transparency efforts as well as adding stability to the position.

“My end goal is to come on board, get working with the officers of this department and the citizens of this community to try and help provide stability and safety”, said Lewis.

Lewis’ family has lived in Columbus since he left for Waynesboro and he said it’s “awesome” to be able to come back home, saying his family was the “big draw” to the position.

Lewis will now step into a chief position that has faced many issues over the past several months.

“He is familiar with the siutation and he knows he’s stepping into a difficult situation and he’s going to have to hit the ground running…”, said Mayor Robert Smith.

Smith also said, regardless of how the vote turned out, he is confident him and the city council will support the chosen chief.

No date has been set as to when Lewis will officially take over as chief.