For Obie Wells, law enforcement is a family affair.
Wells recently took over as commander for Precinct Four and is making plans to address auto burglaries and property crime, especially along the I-55 corridor.
“Right now, in Precinct Four we have a lot of property crime, in particular auto burglaries,” he said. “I’m working with the chiefs and our sergeants to put a plan of action in order to curtail those and get crime down.”
He said the worst areas for auto burglaries and thefts are along the I-55 North corridor and the Ridgewood Court corridor.
Wells said as he gets acclimated to his new position, he hopes to meet with neighborhood and church leaders on the Northside and set up meetings with homeowners’ associations.
He replaces former Cmdr. Tyrone Buckley, who is now deputy chief of the administration division.
Wells is well-positioned to help the precinct. The 15-year Jackson Police Department veteran has served in numerous positions within the department and has law enforcement in the blood.
His father, Obie Wells Sr., retired from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department as a captain with 28 years of service.
“He really influenced me, my brothers and my sister,” Wells said.
The commander’s younger brothers, Jason and Julian also are law enforcement officers on the coast, while his younger sister Erin is a recent police academy graduate, now serving with the Moss Point Police Department.
His brother Josey Wells, was a U.S. marshal who was killed in the line of duty in Louisiana.
Wells’ mother is Sherry, and he has three other sisters, Taniesha Garcia, Melanie Wells and Amanda Brown.
The Gulf Coast native came to Jackson to attend Jackson State University (JSU). He received a degree in criminal justice in 2005.
While in Jackson, he met his future wife, a Jackson native, and joined the capital city’s police force. Today, he and Tyesha Wells have one son, Obie III.
Wells comes to Precinct Four having served in various capacities with the department.
“I worked six years in patrol and made detective in 2011 in robbery and homicide,” he said. “I was there until 2013 or 2014, when I made sergeant.”
After that, Wells went back to the patrol division, where he served as supervisor. From there, he went back to investigations, where he became supervisor of the property crimes division.
During his time at property crimes, Wells also supervised the special victims’ unit, the juvenile division and the auto theft divisions.
“I was approached by Chief (James) Davis about becoming commander and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to experience what I’m experiencing now,” he said.
Precinct Four runs from East County Line Road in the north to Fortification Street in the south. It is bordered by the railroad at North State Street to the west and the Pearl River to the east. The precinct has 47 officers.
