VIDEO: Columbus Residents And City Leaders React To Police Report

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Six months ago Columbus leaders hired a consultant to evaluate the police department.

During Tuesday’s city council meeting, Dr. K.B. Turner presented his findings.

He believes the department needs new leadership starting with the chief of police.

“Just the unsolved cases and murders, we don’t need that,” said Donna Maloney, who’s in favor Turner’s findings. “So, to get that taken care of we would need the police department to step up.”

Maloney grew up in the Friendly City, and as much as she loves her hometown, she wants to see a change in leadership at the police department.

“We want to feel safe and to feel safe we need changes,” she expressed. “So if the leadership now would have made those changes, I don’t feel like it would have gotten to this point.”

Similar statements were echoed all throughout Turner’s analysis.

In his report Turner stated, “Chief Oscar Lewis has unwittingly placed this community in a precarious situation as a result of his inability or failure to maintain an acceptable staffing level for public safety.”

He also goes on to say, “Many officers, citizens, and some elected officials expressed the need for infrastructural change beginning at the helm with CPD.”

However, some residents disagree with the consultant’s evaluation.

“Right now I think they still need to give him a little bit more time so he can get all of his ideas in, and make sure he gets all of his people that he need in, because last time I heard, they were kind of short on personnel,” said Morris Brown, who’s opposed to Turner’s report. “He just needs a little bit more time I think.”

“I think it’s a good report,” said Ward 5 Councilman Stephen Jones. “I think that we as the city council and the mayor, we have to look at implementing some of the other things that he suggested that we do, and that may in turn, make the chief do a better job.”

Councilman Jones said the board should consider adopting some of Turner’s recommendations including, hiring more people to work in the crime lab, making upgrades to the technology and equipment within the department, and implementing more cameras throughout the city.

“I think that if we implement some of the things that he suggest, it may help the chief be a better person,” said Jones. “He’s only been there probably a little over a year and a half, so I’m not really sure if we are at the point where we want to throw the baby out with the bathwater just yet.”

Councilmen did not take any action on the report. They tabled it until their next meeting on August 15th.