Ten days after Fred Randle was hired by the city council to lead the Yazoo City Police Department, he submitted a letter of resignation from the local post.
Mayor David Starling told WLBT that Randle’s resignation was mutually agreed upon between the two, adding that “it be best we take away all the hoopla and all the negativity that was surrounding this position.”
The “hoopla and negativity” that Starling could have been referring to was both the state and local media coverage of Randle intending to maintain two jobs as the local police chief and as Leflore County’s emergency management director, a position based in Greenwood. The decision was made public by The Herald, The Greenwood Commonwealth and WLBT.
The discussion of Randle holding both jobs also went behind closed doors at a recent Leflore County Board of Supervisors meeting. It was reported that the issue would be discussed at the board’s next regular meeting.
However, according to The Greenwood Commonwealth, “Randle’s decision to resign as Yazoo City’s police chief has relieved the Leflore County Board of Supervisors from having to address the issue of its emergency management director’s dual employment.”
“Fred does a good job in emergency management. I hope he stays with us and continues doing that,” said Leflore County District 1’s Sam Abraham. “I think that was the right decision he made.”
The Herald also reported that the local police chief position was not posted nor were interviews held before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved Randle’s hire on a 4-1 vote in the June 12 meeting. Alderwoman Elizabeth Thomas was the sole opposing vote, stating that she did not feel the hiring process “was done right.”
It was also reported by the media that Randle, who previously served as police chief for the town of Moorehead, also attempted to rescind his resignation the same week he accepted his role in Yazoo City. According to Mayor Greg Holland, the town board declined to take him back.
These factors, along with The Herald’s reporting of the city employee residency requirement included in the city-issued employee handbook were brought to the public’s attention.
Starling said Randle’s appointment was made quickly because the city “had declared a state of emergency” with the recent gun violence that has swept through the local community, resulting in bloodshed. He added that former chief Kenny Hampton’s resignation was “abrupt.”
However, the city council tabled Hampton’s reappointment on four separate occasions before he submitted his resignation letter, citing differences between him and Starling.
“A leader’s job is to bring calm to a seemingly turbulent situation,” Starling said, in the most recent city council meeting. “As mayor, I will not go back and forth with people about their opinions because everyone is entitled to one. I will not participate in helping foster distractions that are not beneficial for our city. Yes, I am guilty of wanting immediate results to combat the recent gun violence here in Yazoo City.”
“As I stated before, the city attorney was asked did we have to post for the position of police chief after the former chief abruptly resigned,” he continued. “The city also had declared an emergency and that we were told we did not have to post the position.”
Starling also said Randle’s hire would have “gained eight to ten certified officers that were willing to come to Yazoo City with him.”
“Also, his connection to outside law enforcement agencies would have been extremely beneficial to Yazoo City,” Starling said. “In his short time as chief, an arrest was made in the shooting of the young man that happened in Clubview. That person is in jail as we speak. And active warrants have been issued for the two suspects in the shooting that occurred here at City Hall. The U.S. Marshals’ office are assisting in that case.”
During last week’s public commentary section of the board meeting, city resident Cynthia Walker also said the community needed a police chief who would be ready to respond to issues immediately within the city limits. She said Randle, who was serving as police chief at the time, did not arrive on the scene of the murder near City Hall until about two hours after the initial call.
“I am mad as all get out,” said Walker. “I challenge you all to listen what went out on the night of that killing. A young man, for over an hour, handled a dead body, the storm and the traffic. The chief…it took him two hours and 20 minutes…I was on the scene before he was. I need to be the damn chief.”
“That kind of language is not going to be accepted,” replied Starling.
“We are going strike it from the record, but we do not need a chief that cannot see about us,” Walker added. “Now my time (to speak during public comment) has expired. I am done, mayor. I am done.”
The Yazoo Herald filed a public records request with the local dispatch center for the Computer Aided Dispatch report in relation to the incident near City Hall. According to the CAD report, the initial call following the discovery of the victim arrived at 4:48 a.m. on June 18. The report also showed Randle did not log in as on the scene until 6:30 a.m.
The report also showed that two off-duty officers did arrive on the scene before Randle.
“It really didn’t matter to me about (Randle’s) emergency management job because, as I stated early, I am guilty of wanting immediate result,” Starling said. “Lord knows, we need them here in Yazoo City. I would invite any member of the community to speak to local law enforcement personnel, about Fred Randle and his character. But the reality of this situation is that I work for the people of Yazoo City. I do not have personal agendas or friends that I am trying to create positions for or do anything with this city that benefits me personally. The only thing I want for Yazoo City is a safe and thriving community.”
Randle’s short tenure as Yazoo City’s police chief marks the ninth leader of the local police department in eight years.
