Four Columbus police officers at the center of an incident May 5 at Vicksburg National Military Park reportedly face a 15-day suspension without pay and six months’ probation.

The action came at the conclusion of a closed session of the Columbus City Council. Appeals in disciplinary matters would go through the city’s civil service commission, a standard process for municipal employees. The unanimous vote itself was confirmed by Columbus Police Chief Joseph St. John late Tuesday, but he declined this morning to confirm the details of the action, in keeping with department policy.

“Neither the Columbus Police Department nor the city council took this lightly,” St. John said late Tuesday.

WCBI-TV in Columbus reported St. John recommended up to 30 days’ suspension but the council reduced the suspension when the decision was rendered.

The officers were reported by a visitor to park rangers for playing loud music and using flashers to deter visitors from approaching the police cruiser in which they were riding with the trunk popped open. No citation was issued to the officers, park officials said, because the matter was treated as an educational stop that asks a visitor to cease inappropriate behavior.

They were part of a contingent of law enforcement officers from around the state in Vicksburg for a conference of S.T.O.R.M., or Sobriety Trained Officers Representing Mississippi, made up of more than 200 agencies who convene on issues pertaining to DUI detection and apprehension. The Columbus officers were ordered back home the following day.

St. John has said the four are the same who were approved in April by the city council to attend the annual conference — Cpl. Spence Wallingford and officers Wade Beard, Heath Beard and Robert Walker. Two additional individuals, a Lowndes County sheriff’s deputy and his fiance were reported by the TV station to be riding on the vehicle’s opened trunk.

In a statement issued via e-mail this morning, St. John apologized to park officials and, once again, to the citizens of Vicksburg.

“The Columbus Police Department stands by its commitment to excellence,” St. John said in part of the statement. “I’m proud to work alongside some of the finest in the law enforcement profession, though this incident is unfortunate it was addressed in a quick and expedient manner. This behavior is not indicative of the hard work of the Columbus Police Department officers.”

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Contact Danny Barrett Jr. at dbarrett@vickburgpost.com