Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. this week said he wanted to clear up any misconceptions the public may have about the status of an embattled Vicksburg Police Department (VPD) officer.

In January, VPD Deputy Chief Troy Kimble came under fire after a video surfaced of a man appearing to interfere with a traffic stop by videoing Kimble and another officer making an arrest. Chief of Police Penny Jones said at the time that the man was detained, but not for videoing the incident. 

“On Friday, January 31, 2025, officers conducted a traffic stop involving a reckless driving incident,” Jones wrote on the VPD Facebook page following the incident. “During this stop, a second vehicle attempted to interfere with law enforcement’s efforts, leading to additional arrests. This young man was not arrested for recording/video. You have a right to record if you choose to maintain a respectable distance. There is more to what took place prior to recording this video.”

Following the incident, Flaggs – who also serves as the Vicksburg police commissioner – said Kimble would be restricted to “administrative leave” until the case could work itself through the judicial process, but left room for the officer to return to duty should an “emergency” arise.

“There’s a perception issue out there involving a officer that has not been cleared up for whatever reason,” Flaggs said during the Feb. 3, meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. “We’re removing him or her from the streets and from the public arrests. Now, having said that, if there’s an emergency – an extreme emergency – just like the chief, then I think the chief and this person ought to be involved. I’m not restricting this person down to every inch.”

This week, Flaggs said he wanted to clarify that Kimble does not stand accused of a crime, nor does he necessarily face accusations of acting improperly. Flaggs said the restriction to desk duty is a formality any time an officer is involved in a questionable situation, adding the details of the case will be resolved through the normal judicial process.

“This is going to the Grand Jury,” Flaggs said. “And when I say that, I mean that the case will be presented to the Grand Jury and it will be worked out through those channels. This is not a decision I as police commissioner will make. It’s in their hands and they’ll make the right decision. Both of these people in the video are facing felony charges, so this has to work itself out the correct way.”

Flaggs said he asks that the public be patient and trust the process as the facts are presented in court.

“Until proven guilty, everyone is innocent,” Flaggs said. “As police commissioner, I looked at the video and I’ve come to the determination that the process needs to go forward. Those persons that are involved in the process have to make the decisions. I can’t make those decisions. You let the police department present the facts and they’ll make a decision.”

Flaggs said he has no details on a timeline for the case to be presented, but is confident the justice system will come to the correct conclusion. 

“Whatever the determination is, I’m going to stand by it,” he said. “I’ve always done that. I have every intention of standing by the Grand Jury’s decision.”