A new top cop is coming to Jackson after being confirmed by the city council during a special meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
Dr. RaShall Brackney, Democratic Mayor John Horhn’s pick for chief of the Jackson Police Department, was confirmed on a 6-1 vote. Brackney is a decorated law enforcement veteran, spending much of her career in the northeast with 31 years as a member of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
“I am proud to say that Dr. RaShall Brackney was the best person we can find and she’s the right candidate
Before her appointment to be chief in Jackson, Brackney rose through the ranks in Pittsburgh and became a commander overseeing major crimes, operations, special operations, administration, and crime analysis. She became the first Black woman in the U.S. to oversee a special operations division that included SWAT, mounted patrol, accident investigation, hostage negotiations, river rescue, traffic, and the bomb squad.
After retiring from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police in 2015, she served as the chief in Charlottesville, Va., and at George Washington University in Washington.
Brackney holds a PhD in instructional management and taught at George Mason University, where her classes focused on “police legitimacy, transparency, and reimagining public safety.” In a press release issued after her appointment, she made clear that efficient policing begins with public trust.
“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 stated. “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.”
Ashby Foote, a Republican-turned-independent who represents Ward 1 on the city council and was the lone dissenting vote, said before the vote that one of his main concerns is how she will interact with other law enforcement agencies operating in the capital city. He did not clarify during the meeting why he voted against Brackney’s confirmation.
In 2024 and 2025, the Republican-controlled Mississippi Legislature saw its moves to expand the jurisdiction and capabilities of the state-run Capitol Police Department go into effect. Other law enforcement agencies working in the city include, but are not limited to, the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office and the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Some hospitals and schools have their own departments, including the University of Mississippi Medical Center Police Department and Jackson State University Police Department.
“A key part is that the chief of police has to be working with all these other law enforcement. They can’t be isolated from Capitol Police or from the state law enforcement officers,” Foote said. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck type of moment for Jackson.”
During questioning by members, Brackney did address collaboration and said she met with Capitol Police Department Chief Bo Luckey on Tuesday morning.
“We all have the same goals – to make this community safer and thriving,” Brackney said. “We had those conversations.”
Brackney also fielded questions on subjects such as gangs, technology, crimes resulting in or connected to blight, education initiatives to reduce youth crime, and animal control. She answered each question thoroughly with responses focused on strategic planning and spending, partnerships, and intentionality. She even got a resounding round of applause when asked by City Council President Brian Grizzell about corruption and responding that it “will not be tolerated.”
Brackney will officially begin her duties April 1 and is expected to be paid between $133,000 and $150,000 annually, but her pay must be decided through a separate vote by the council. She will oversee a police force that has approximately 240 sworn officers and has made strides in fighting crime in recent years. In 2025, Jackson saw 75 homicides, a stark difference from its record-high number of 160 in 2021. The Jackson Police Department also reported that the most recent calendar year saw an overall crime dip of roughly 13.4%, including drops in violent and property crimes.
Brackney was selected through a months-long nationwide search that included the city contracting with the Police Executive Research Forum, a national firm credited with successful law enforcement hires in places like Boston and Denver. She will replace Joseph Wade, who retired in September after just over two years on the job.