Newly-appointed Police Chief Fredrick Randle said he intends to hold two jobs in his role as leader of the Yazoo City Police Department.
Along with serving as leader of the local police department, Randle will also serve as Leflore County’s emergency management director, based in Greenwood, which is about 57 miles away.
According to an interview with the Greenwood Commonwealth, Randle said, based on a prior legal opinion, there is no conflict in holding both the jobs. He told the newspaper there was no issue in holding both jobs if he was not “double-dipping,” or claiming the same work hours.
“In my eyesight, it is legal,” he said.
On a 4-1 vote, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen appointed Randle as the new leader of the Yazoo City Police Department last week. Alderwoman Elizabeth Thomas was the sole opposing vote in the appointment, adding that she did not agree with the hiring process.
“And I want the record to reflect as to why I am voting ‘no’ because the policy and procedure were not followed in selecting a police chief,” Thomas said. “No applications were taken. No interviews were taken or given. I have nothing against Mr. Randle. He could walk past me right now, and I wouldn’t know him from anybody. But there are things to do.”
Hearing that Randle intends to keep his role as Leflore County’s EMA director, Thomas said her concerns remain considering the recent crime wave in Yazoo City.
When questioned by the Greenwood Commonwealth on how Randle intended to balance both jobs, he referred to his tenure as police chief of the town of Moorhead from 2019 until recently. He maintained that position along with Leflore County’s EMA position, which he has held since 2013.
According to the Greenwood Commonwealth, “when asked Monday what his work schedule would be in Yazoo City and Leflore County, Randle declined to provide specifics but said in a text message that he has always been able to avoid any overlap while holding the job in Moorhead.”
“There has never been a conflict on the jobs,” he said. “I have that covered like before. Nothing changed.”
Based on the latest 2022 data from the U.S. Census, the population of Moorhead is 1,909. Yazoo City’s population is 10,163.
The Greenwood Commonwealth also spoke with Moorehead Mayor Greg Holland, who said Randle resigned as the town’s police chief. However, he attempted to rescind his resignation last week, but the town board declined to take him back.
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.
According to a news report from WLBT, Mayor David Starling said they “had not talked about Randle giving up the other position.”
Also, according to the Greenwood Commonwealth, “Randle continued to express irritation about being quizzed over an issue he believes was resolved more than four years ago.”
“I feel like these questions are not anything to speak to you about or the world,” he texted to the Commonwealth. “I have my way of living covered. People talk about people (who) don’t want to work and how people want to live off welfare. I try to work to support my living and for doing that, I’m being dragged through the mud for being a responsible family man for my kids and grandkids.”
The question remains as to whether Randle will relocate to Yazoo City in his capacity as police chief. According to the city of Yazoo City’s employee handbook, “all employees of the City of Yazoo unless a waiver has been approved by the governing authorities in accordance with law must reside within Yazoo County, Mississippi. All employees shall establish residency in Yazoo County, Mississippi within six months of employment and shall maintain residency within Yazoo County during the term of their employment.”
