The commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety hopes the Legislature will provide funding so that additional Capitol Police officers can be hired.
Sean Tindell, commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, said $4.4 million would fund salaries and equipment for another 32 Capitol Police officers and dispatch equipment for Capitol Police.
Capitol Police currently has 118 sworn law officers and the addition of 32 officers would bring the total number of sworn law officers to 150, he said.
Last year, the Legislature provided funding to increase the number of Capitol Police officers, place it under the Department of Public Safety and expand its patrolling jurisdiction beyond the boundaries of the Capitol Complex Improvement District, a move that allows officers to assist the Jackson Police Department in reducing crime in the city.
The Capitol Complex Improvement District encompasses major state properties in Jackson, not just in downtown but west to Jackson State University and the Jackson Medical Mall and to the east across Interstate-55 to LeFleur’s Bluff, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, the Mississippi Children’s Museum and the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum. The northern boundary of the district extends beyond the Fondren business district to Meadowbrook Road and the southern boundary is South Street.
Tindell does not anticipate problems hiring additional officers when the funding is available.
“Capitol Police Chief (Bo) Luckey brought a sense of enthusiasm and vision to the agency,” he said. “I’m confident others will want to be a part of the good things we have going on at Capitol Police.”
Capitol Police, which has hired officers once employed by law enforcement agencies in the metro area as well as other parts of the state, is increasing its efforts to recruit new officers and send them to the Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Academy, Tindell said.
“We’ve started recruitment efforts in community colleges and universities, looking at those majoring in criminal justice,” Tindell said. “We believe those are good resources.”
Tindell said he has ot viewed JPD’s proposed holding facility, but he plans to schedule a visit.
The city of Jackson plans to ask the Legislature for $2 million to fund repairs for the facility, which is located on the third floor of the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office at President and Tombigbee Street, behind the Hinds County Courthouse and less than a block away from the police department.
“As we continue to work with Capitol Police and the Hinds County Sheriff on improving public safety directive there might be incidences where Capitol Police can utilize that facility,” Tindell said.
Tindell said he believes relationships between Capitol Police, JPD and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office continue to improve. “The future is very promising,” he said.
Capitol Police and JPD spoke with residents of the Fondren neighborhood during a community meeting on Jan. 17 about ways to reduce crime and stay safe.
Tindell also plans to ask the Legislature to fund the purchase of body cameras for all patrol officers that fall under the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
Exactly how much it would cost to purchase body cameras for about 600 patrol officers, which would include Capitol Police, is being determined, he said.
“We’re in the process of trying to secure quotes for the body cameras,” he said. “It’s something we’ve never had for the Department of Public Safety.”
Body cameras provide valuable information any time there is a complaint against a law enforcement officer, Tindell said, and the video from a camera is useful in an investigation.
“More and more it has become expected that police officers will have body cameras,” he said.
