Tensions rise after board fails to consult police chief

Vicksburg’s police department is getting some unexpected help patrolling the downtown area and the nearby parking garages during the Christmas holidays.

Without consulting with or notifying Police Chief Walter Armstrong, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen Wednesday voted 3-0 to approve a $532 contract between the city and Vicksburg Main Street and James Lee, doing business as Quality Security, to patrol Washington Street and the parking garages. The money will come from Flaggs’ discretionary account.

According to the contract, Lee, whose company handles security for the Vicksburg Auditorium, will patrol the area from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 to 11 p.m. Friday, and 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday during the holiday period.

“I was not aware they were going to do that,” Armstrong, who was not at the board meeting, said. “No one told me.”

And while “an extra set of eyes in the area” are always helpful, Armstrong said he should have been consulted.

“I would have thought Main Street would have passed this through the police department and then gone to the mayor,” he said. “We are responsible for the security of the citizens. If they’re going to have extra security, we need to be told.

“We need to know what hours they’re going to be working, will they be in a uniform and whether they’ll be armed, so we can tell the officers working down there. For all we know, he could be wearing Bermuda shorts and a T-shirt that says ‘security.’”

Armstrong said law enforcement officers are finding themselves in more volatile situations, “and the last thing we need is a call about a disturbance downtown and find somebody with a handgun.”

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield said he also did not know Armstrong had not been consulted about the security guard, adding he thought the idea came from the chief.

Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said he didn’t believe Armstrong needed to be contacted.

“It had absolutely nothing to do with the chief, that’s why we didn’t talk to the chief; I didn’t think we had to,” he said.

“It was a recommendation from Main Street,” he said. “It had no reflection on the police department. It’s just some additional eyes after hours.”

Main Street executive director Kim Hopkins said she talked about security with deputy chief Bobby Stewart, but never said the city planned to hire an officer.

Stewart said he talked with Hopkins about three weeks ago about the officers working downtown, adding Hopkins told him “they were thinking about hiring a security guard.”

The police department has two officers assigned to the downtown area. One works during the day when the businesses are open, and the other patrols after hours, from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Both, Flaggs said, do an excellent job.

Hopkins said the security guard patrol would fill in the hours when no officer is downtown.

Flaggs said the idea of hiring a security guard came up “because they (Main Street) were having trouble with the (parking) garages and stuff, because we haven’t issued the contract for the garage lighting and cameras and mirrors.” He did not give any specific problems.

“This is just a small window to add an extra set of eyes and security and safety during the holidays,” he said. “I promise you, it had nothing to do with the police department. We didn’t think about the police department. Their guys are doing an excellent job.”

“It kind of shocks me to know that he didn’t even know about it,” Mayfield said. “I believe the chief should be at the forefront of any security that we’ll be doing. It’s kind of surprising that Main Street didn’t run it by the police chief.

“I don’t like the sound of that. I think anytime that there’s extra protection out there dealing with the safety of the citizens, the police chief should always be at the forefront of it, and to know he wasn’t even contacted dumbfounds me.”