Reverse or Referendum: Aberdeen Alderman Must Choose on Police Chief Issue

Written by: Steve Rogers

ABERDEEN, Miss. – (WCBI) Aberdeen aldermen will have to set a referendum or reverse their decision to start hiring the city’s police chief rather than letting voters fill the position.

Aldermen voted last fall to change from an elected to hired chief but current Chief Henry Randle, who was elected to his second term last year, gathered more than enough signatures to call for a public vote on the issue. Aldermen then decided to ask state officials for an opinion on whether they had the power to make the change without public approval.

The opinion apparently was actually written in April but not received by City Clerk Jackie Benson until Friday. Aldermen briefly reviewed the opinion tonight and said they’d discuss it in detail at their September 3rd meeting. In short, the opinion says aldermen have to have a referendum or change their position and stick with an elected chief.