Dr. RaShall Brackney has officially begun her tenure as police chief of Mississippi’s capital city, getting started in the role on Wednesday.
Brackney was first-term Mayor John Horhn’s pick for the position and was promptly approved by the city council, though a second vote had to be taken to approve a salary for her that was initially higher than what was statutorily allowed.
A veteran law enforcement officer, Brackney spent much of her career in the northeast with 31 years as a member of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. She 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. Brackney also spent time as the police chief in Charlottesville, Va., and at George Washington University. She replaces Joseph Wade, who retired in September 2025 after just over two years on the job.
Between the time Wade retired and Brackney assumed her post, Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones performed double duty, serving as chief of police in the interim while maintaining his elected title. He said he anticipates a positive professional collaboration with Brackney as the two use their positions to make Jackson a safer city.
“As a lifelong Jacksonian, I admire the progress our city continues to make, and it has been an honor to contribute to that progress. In my ongoing role as sheriff, I look forward to continuing strong partnerships with the city of Jackson, our community, and all public safety stakeholders,” Jones said. “I also look forward to supporting [Brackney] throughout this transition and as she assumes leadership of the department.”
As for Brackney, the new chief plans to hit the ground running with a community-centered approach, focused on building trust between the public and Jackson police. She has also been prepping to deal with current crises facing the city, like gang activity, youth violence, and crimes related to blight, while noting that she will have a zero-tolerance policy for corruption.
Brackney takes over a department that has made recent progress under the guidance of her predecessor. In 2025, Jackson recorded 75 homicides, a sharp decline from its record-high of 160 just four years prior. 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.