Tuesday, May 25, 2021

"So Many Within (JPD) are Full of S***"

 Lawsuit claims Jackson Mayor made above statement about JPD

A federal lawsuit paints a rather unflattering picture of the Jackson Police Department during the tenure of Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba.  Former JPD Deputy Chief Tina Wallace sued Mayor Lumumba, JPD Chief James Davis, and the city of Jackson for sex discrimination and retaliation yesterday. 

Ms. Wallace joined JPD in 1993. She worked her way through the ranks until she became Deputy Chief of Administration under Chief James Davis.  Her problems allegedly began when an employee tried to claim a large amount of deferred time.

The manager of the 911 center said she had 281 hours of deferred time she wanted to use. She also claimed JPD denied her the use of her comp time. Another employee alleged the manager had someone else punch her time clock for her. Wallace opened an investigation. A Commander accused Wallace of harassing the manager with the EEO Officer even though the Deputy Chief had not yet completed her investigation. Wallace had to answer the complaint in writing. She determined a JPD officer was punching the time clock for the manager and submitted her findings. The Commander later withdrew the complaint.

She alleged JPD Command staff  interfered with her as she performed her duties.   Pastor Terri Moore chaperoned a command staff meeting in October 2018 "due to the tension that existed amongst the executive command staff." Wallace "complained Assistant Chief Ricky Robinson interfered with her carrying out her duties while ignoring the male deputy chiefs."  

Ervin Bradley ("Hondo Lumumba") called the Deputy Chief on December 17, 2018. Either Ms. Wallace engaged in an elaborate fabrication or she recorded the phone call. The complaint states:

 I'm very, very impressed. I'm very happy with the work you' re doing. I'm extremely impressed and you ... I have peace that there is competence going on. I have peace that - you know - real work is happening." 

 17. Lumumba continued: "Understand this ... that, you know, because of whatever history or whatever part of history ... Well, first and foremost, all before me ... the part of history that I don't understand anything about. You got people that are gunning for you. Right ... and people will continue to do that. Some people will never have peace in their spirit about you... And what I will say is this, continue to do what you' re doing. Right ... just always remember as you communicate and as you do things upright, that your communication is sound that even your detractors at the end of the day, that people who are watching can never say anything negative about you... And the reason I say that is because you' re not doing anything you don't need to be doing and that you shouldn't be doing. And I'm actually happy with what you' re doing. You have a skill set that can ultimately make you chief. Right...Now, the reality is this ... and im an (sic) be honest as a man. Right. I know that your path to that is harder than most men. Right ... because there are things that you have to do in leadership positions that anybody would need to do, but just because yo u' re a woman, they gone give you more hell about it. Right ... and that 's the reality. That' s the reality and we got to confront this world that's like that." 

 18.        "But ...  but ultimately, I just want you to keep that in your mind because I would like to ...  you know ...  when you become chief ... you know.  I want to be there with you. Right ...  and  ...  and smiling  with you  knowing  that ...  that  nobody 's  silliness  because you' re serious about your work, cause you' re intelligent, because you think, and because you're passionate that nobody  uses  that against you... But ...  but ...  but this isn' t for .. . Don't you worry about anything.   I'm  fully with you.   I fully think you're doing a good job,  but you're going to have those little whispers. Just like I got whispers. We all have whispers.   Right."

19.       Lumumba explained: "[i]n all honesty and understand  that ...  that I'm  a man of faith ...  you know.  Ah, and I try to choose my words carefully.  My father told me ...  you know ...  I don' t care what words you use, so long as it effectively communicates what is within your heart.   With that being said, I have learned that so many within the Jackson Police Department are full of shit ...  Right.. .Just to be honest with you, and I won' t say that the majority.    It' s just so many clicks.   It's a difficult environment  to navigate ... Right.  So, I can see you' re  never going to satisfy everybody and that shouldn't be your goal."

Strong words (allegedly) in support of the Deputy Chief.  However, the rocky road continued for Tina Wallace as turmoil enveloped JPD.  

Ms. Wallace says Mayor Lumumba required all patrol officers and detectives to meet with him in February and March 2019 at various times.   Consultants met with the command staff in April to discuss complaints made in those sessions.  Mayor Lumumba allegedly told the JPD civilian employees on May 3, 2019 that changes were coming to JPD. 

The 2019 Memorial Day will be a day of infamy at JPD for years to come . A JPD officer committed suicide after a mother accused him of having sex with her under-age daughter in a patrol car.  A press conference was held about the suicide.  The Mayor and his brain trust held a meeting with all deputy chiefs after the presser.  Mayor Lumumba allegedly said: 

 sworn and civilian personnel complained that the deputy chiefs lacked interpersonal skills; that deputy chiefs were telling employees if they don' t like it, they can leave; deputy chiefs were back-stabbing each other and not playing as  a  team;  there  was  no  vision  of  leadership;  deputy  chiefs  were  not  treating  their subordinates with respect; deputy chiefs were retaliating against their subordinates; deputy chiefs  engaged  in  nepotism  and  favoritism  (while   mentioning  " Hondo"   wasn' t  his biological uncle); deputy chiefs told their subordinates they were receiving directives from Lumumba; and deputy chiefs were not owning up to their directives. (KF note: Several of the deputies were sergeants in their highest previous rank.   They were promoted to deputy chief after Mayor Lumumba had former Chief Anthony Moore run off former Chief Lee Vance's command staff.)

29.       Lumumba  stated  he  was  not  going  to  share  specific  complaints.    Lumumba, however,  demanded  all  deputy  chiefs  resign  by May  31,  2019 and  serve in an  interim capacity.     Pursuant  to  Lumumba' s  directive,  Wallace,  under  duress,  submitted   her resignation on May 29, 2019.  Like the male deputy chiefs, Wallace continued to serve in her position as " inter im" deputy chief of administration.

30.       During the week of August 5 -  10, 2019, all deputy chiefs and commanders were ordered to submit their applications/resumes for their interim positions.....

The re-application process did indeed happen.  Several JPD officers informed JJ about it at the time. However, Ms. Wallace continued to butt heads with one Ricky Robinson (FIGJAM).  

A police recruit managed to enter a training class despite a criminal background as well as gang and drug "affiliation."  Chief Davis ordered his Deputy Chief of Administration to investigate.  Ms. Wallace found videos of the recruit with weapons, large rolls of money, gang signs, and marijuana plants.  MLEOTA said JPD had enough evidence to remove him from the class.  However, the recruit remained in the class - until Ms. Wallace discovered he stole JPD patches during the trainees' tour of the supply unit.  

Wallace also denied a police recruit's application because of sexual misconduct charges that took place while he was in the military.  However, Deputy Chief Robinson scheduled an interview with him.  Although Deputy Chief Wallace should have been present, Robinson replaced him with Lumumba crony, Deputy Chief Vincent Grizzell. Chief Davis stopped the interview when he learned it was taking place.  

Problems developed with yet another potential recruit who was a civilian employee. Deputy Chief Wallace recommended rejecting Xavier Hill's application. The applicant had been allegedly caught stealing property from the impound yard during work hours.  She accused Deputy Chief Robinson of whiting out her denial and changing it to an approval.  Deputy Chief Robinson berated her for telling a Commander to file an affidavit against the alleged thief.  The fun really broke out between the two Deputy Chiefs the next day.

37.       On or about Friday, October 4, 2019, Robinson ordered Wallace to submit a memo about the October 3, 2019 meeting in his office.  Wallace submitted the memo and accused Robinson  of  retaliating  against  her  because  of  her  recommendations  regarding  male applicants and male employees.   Robinson accused Wallace of insubordination.  Wallace was subjected to an Internal Affairs investigation.  Robinson was not required to submit to an Internal Affairs investigation after Wallace reported he granted an interview to a male whos application had been rejected and he
altered the background cover sheet of Xavier Hill's application.

WLBT reported Hill was once convicted of aggravated assault.

The former Deputy Chief was not done dishing the dirt: 

 39.       On or about Friday, December  20, 2019, Wallace confronted Sergeant Kimberly Brown ("Brown") after she received complaints about the sergeant's disappearances and/or extended  lunch  breaks with her alleged  boyfriend,  Jackson  Fire Department  Fire Chief Willie Owens.    On or about January  9, 2020, Tamarra Bowie, a City of Jackson Equal Employment  Opportunity  Officer,  sent  Wallace  a  memorandum  regarding  a  complaint Brown filed against Wallace after Wallace changed Brown's duty hours.
The Deputy Chief became the former Deputy Chief after the Mayor summoned her to a meeting at City Hall on January 10: 

41.       During the meeting in Lumumba' s office, Lumumba told Wallace he was accepting her letter of resignation she submitted  under duress on May 29, 2019.   Lumumba asked Davis, who appeared via a telephone conference, if there was anything he wanted to say. Davis started to talk about a vote that had been taken against Wallace.  Lumumba cut Davis off and changed the subject.   Wallace asked Lumumba what, if anything, she had done to warrant his decision to remove her as a deputy chief in the absence of a recommendation by Davis , her immediate supervisor.   Lurnumba never provided Wallace with a reason for her removal.  Lumumba did not accept the resignations of any of the male deputy chiefs.

Ms. Wallace charges the defendants with sex discrimination,  retaliation, tortious interference with her right to work, and constructive discharge.  She seeks back pay, reinstatement, compensatory damages, and punitive damages. 

Attorney Lisa Ross represents Ms. Wallace. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Kristi Johnson. 

The city of Jackson settled a sex discrimination lawsuit with Ms. Wallace several years ago for  $75,000.


24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Idiots... like little lost children. No wonder the city has gone to hell.

Anonymous said...

Jackson-the gift that keeps on giving.

Anonymous said...

From her account, it sounds like the cops may be the biggest criminals in the area. I guess it’s not just a few bad apples after all. Not sure what the solution is to getting decent recruits. The people who want to be cops seem to be doing so because they know they can do whatever they want without consequence. Maybe we could try some stronger laws that make being a police officer an aggravating circumstance during the commission of a crime and charging fellow officers for failure to report their criminal coworkers? Unfortunately, the right will never admit there are issues with policing and don’t want to be accused of defunding the police for trying to address the obvious problems.

Anonymous said...

Convicts and soon-to-be-convicts run JPD.

Anonymous said...

This is how these Bozo’s and Bobo’s operate. The proof is in the pudding. Just look at the current state of the City of Jackson.

Anonymous said...

Lisa Ross must hang out at the water cooler 24 hours a day.

Lisa gets / has more drama in her life than Jerry Springer.

Lisa Ross’ diary must be the juiciest read of all time.

Damnit Lisa Ross….go get em

Anonymous said...

In the 50's,60's 70's and even into the 80's JPD was a police force that was considered top notch even by people who were not from the south. What changed in the 90's and early 2000's that drug the JPD to the horrible level it has sunk too?

Anonymous said...

2:57 PM
I think a lot of them left for the suburbs. I know one that left for Clinton PD and retired in 2015.

Anonymous said...

For the past few years in the City of Jackson and Hinds County, we’ve read/ heard stories of smelling ass, erect penis’s, sexual harassment etc. After all that filth, a good house cleaning is needed!

No crime fighting at all!

Time for a new Mayor! Cause this one ain’t going to do Shigity about JPD.

Anonymous said...

What is this - junior high school or something? Jesus H. Christ! These are not serious people.

Anonymous said...

A dysfunctional police department managed by a dysfunctional mayor - Right? Right? Right?

Anonymous said...

Mr. Mayor no one takes your JPD white shirts serious. Most are a joke! Not good examples for the young bucks!

Anonymous said...


" For the past few years in the City of Jackson and Hinds County, we’ve read/ heard stories of smelling ass, erect penis’s, sexual harassment etc. After all that filth, a good house cleaning is needed!"

So true 4:48.

But I wouldn't expect change.

Even after living without water for six months, the majority Jacksonians are
almost guaranteed to Re-elect these idiots.

Speaking For Thousands said...

Either provide Cliff Notes or dump this whole fucking thread in the garbage heap. Please, for God's sake, there is more to this world than the fuck-ups of JPD, Lumumba, the water department, Stokes, Jackson homicides, the airport, I-220, Archie and sewage. Please either dump all this shit and put up some interesting topics or suffer the loss of thousands of your readers. This shit has gone far beyond boring repetition.

Anonymous said...

Garbage city.

Garbage mayor.

Garbage police department.

Anonymous said...

@5:40 PM,

Right, right?

Anonymous said...

Well, they have a convicted sex offender working in the mayor’s city camera room. I wondered why they wanted access to everyone’s hike cameras.

Anonymous said...

7:51 PM
In the words of Curly Bill Brocious: Well....bye.

Anonymous said...

Tina Wallace needs a better attorney.

Anonymous said...

Kingfish - does this mean we will not be receiving a UCR again this month?

Anonymous said...

2:57 pm must be oblivious.

The rest of the Nation saw what was happening in Mississippi with law enforcement,often on the national news,in the 50's and 60's and were appalled. What is it about a murder that was easily solved and for which many of those in power knew full well who was responsible, you avoided acknowledging?

And, in the 70's more than a few officers complained that those with money or power and their children had their crimes covered up...gambling, alcohol sales when it was illegal, spousal and child abuse, vandalism of property including shooting at homes and breaking car windows in a spree. Indeed, some criminals were elected to office and heralded.

Until you can admit the corruption of the past and demand it is aggressively ended, you enable it to continue.

I'm happy this case will be adjudicated. I can't know all the facts from a court filing. The court of public opinion is a very bad venue for justice.

Anonymous said...

All this crap instead of getting to work and taking the city back from the criminals. The city needs an overhaul from the top down. It is a shame that Jackson has become a dump!!!!!!

Burke said...

Much appreciated, Lord Fish.

First, Lisa Ross is a first-rate attorney. So I'm down with the earlier injumction: Dammit, Lisa, go get 'em!

Second, the Mayor still lacks enough confidence in his supporters to be able to publicly or even privately shower down on James Davis. Or worse, he deliberately keeps Davis in place because he is afraid to hire someone who will outshine him, and even challenge him for the Mayor's job.

Third, I have spoken on here for years about the main problem in Jackson now that it has a Black majority: the city does not have Black leaders who are willing to come out of the closet and say that a history of dominance by the "white power structure" is no longer of significance in Jackson. My question: Where is the "Black power structure"? Where are the influential Black men and women who will step up and talk about the bad stuff in this city as well as the good, and do it, whether private or public, emphatically? Maybe I'm just out of touch, being of the elderly persuasion, but I believe I have been studying the signs fairly carefully. We could use a few heroes who want to focus on the future. What about you, Mr. Mayor?

Anonymous said...

It breaks my heart with the direction or non direction. According to Chief Davis “We cannot be everywhere” , “we cannot do anything about domestic violence” , “crime is a social issue” , and blah blah blah! What a sad commentary. Why, I ask Why does Jackson not tap into its talent to stop, slow or find out WHY crimes of violence occurs. And to figure when and where crimes occur. And IF there is a pattern put a cop car there during those periods. Boy is that Rocket Science.
There is a correlation between Domestic Violence calls for service and Domestic Violence agg assaults and murders. Whattt????
Do you have Crime Stats? Are you using them??

After a long long time in the field you must hire good people, define the mission, give them the necessary information (including crime stats and intelligence) train train train, then go to work.
We had a young department who say a pattern occurring on Auto Burglaries. A young rookie sat up a surveillance and made 4 arrests. Because of the proximity we call JPD to come and see what we had recovered in their car. We were informed that we were wrong, that there was more than 1 crew doing crimes and there was no way these were the same folks. After about 2-3 hours the Sergeant came back to our department to recover their stolen items. You eat an elephant 1 bite at a time! Just saying!


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