Jackson Mayor John Horhn has made a decision on who he wants to be the city’s next top cop.
Horhn announced Friday afternoon that he is appointing Dr. RaShall Brackney as the city’s next police chief, following a national search that included community input, screening, and multiple rounds of interviews. Brackney’s appointment follows the retirement of former chief Joseph Wade last August. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones has been doing double-duty in the interim, serving as sheriff and police chief. Brackney was chosen for the job over Joseph Daughtry, LeJon Roberts, and Wendell Watts.
“I’m honored by the opportunity to serve the people of Jackson and to work alongside the dedicated men and women of the Jackson Police Department,” Brackney said. “I’ve always believed that you can’t have real public safety without strong community trust. I look forward to listening to residents, partnering with neighborhood leaders, and supporting officers as we work to make every part of this city safer.
“I’m committed to helping build a department that reflects those strengths, treats every person with dignity, and focuses on preventing violence while solving crime. My investments in Jackson run deeper than a title or position. My family is from the greater Jackson area. Jackson has a proud history and a resilient spirit, and my aim is to support the community’s positive growth during my tenure.”
Brackney brings more than three decades of law enforcement leadership, academic work, and public safety experience. She retired from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police in Pennsylvania after more than 30 years of service, rising through the ranks to serve as a commander overseeing major crimes, operations, special operations, administration, and crime analysis.
During her tenure in Pittsburgh, she became the first African American woman in the country to oversee a special operations division that included SWAT, mounted patrol, accident investigation, hostage negotiations, river rescue, traffic, and the bomb squad. She has also held the police chief post at George Washington University and the city of Charlottesville, Va.
“From the start of this search, our focus has been finding the right leader to build trust, reduce crime, and strengthen the partnership between our officers and the residents they serve,” Horhn said. “Dr. RaShall Brackney has spent her career working at the intersection of public safety and community trust, and she knows effective policing depends on accountability and transparency. Her experience running complex departments, her national reputation as a public safety expert, and her commitment to listening to residents make her the right choice to lead the Jackson Police Department.”
Brackney will arrive in Jackson the week of Feb. 16 to meet with officers, council members, and community leaders to hear directly from them. Her appointment will be submitted to the city council for approval. If approved by the council, Brackney will oversee a police force that has made recent strides but still has room to grow. In 2025, Jackson saw 75 homicides, a stark difference from its record-high number of 160 in 2021.