Friday, October 20, 2023

Pearl Assistant Police Chief Fired

 The Pearl Board of Alderman fired Assistant Police Chief Amanda Thomasson Tuesday after meeting in executive session.  

Sources said the firing was related to the Webb case.  Pearl police arrested Nicholas on August 25 and charged him with two counts of sexual battery and one count of statutory rape. Webb is 21 years old. The alleged victim is a family member.  His parents were initially charged with contributing/neglect of a minor child.  However, the charges were dropped at a preliminary hearing on September 12.  

Evidence was presented in the preliminary hearing that then-Pearl High School Principal Chris Chism noticed Thomasson of the abuse nearly two years ago yet no action was taken, allowing the molester to remain in the home.  Internal affairs investigated and found no reports or case history. A polygraph test was administered to the Assistant Chief.  The test had a cut score of 10.  The minimum score for deception is 3.    She was placed on administrative leave October 12.  (Correction: The paragraph originally and wrongly stated the abuse continued after the school discovered it.)

Thomasson was in Gainesville, Florida attending a training class this week when she was notified the Board was going to discuss her employment.  The Board went into executive session and discussed matters with her over Zoom.    Further discussion took place after the Zoom meeting. The Board voted to terminate the Assistant Chief.  


The former Assistant Chief has her friends and they are standing up for her.  Thomasson supporter Marc Gatlin stated publicly on social media: 

Amanda started as a dispatcher at a young age, went through the academy to become an officer, was promoted to Sargeant, moved to juvenile investigations, became a Lieutenant, moved to a shift over patrol, became Admin Lieutenant, then became Captain, followed by being Assistant Chief. She has given her entire life to the City of Pearl. She was repaid with a 3 hour notice to be in a board meeting tonight. She is currently in Gainesville, FL, with me training. This was approved training and they knew she was here. I stood with her as they did a remote hearing with her, cut her off, and disconnected after she said her part. The "justice" being served is detestable. Everyone involved in what happened to her should be ashamed. Amanda deserves better and y'all should have been better. Anyone who knows Amanda, please share this. It doesn't need to go unnoticed.

Her supporters are holding a rally November 4. 


 

40 comments:

Bill Dees said...

Is Rankin County the epicenter of police misgovernance insanity in Mississippi? Asking for a friend in Hinds County.

Anonymous said...

The missing details...

Anonymous said...

So some details I know is that the polygraph was administered by a close friend of the chief's. IA was done by an officer who will benefit greatly with her firing. It seems that anyone who has been at Pearl PD for any length of time are being run out. Sad thing is that Rankin County Law Enforcement used to be the top of law enforcement for this area. All of Rankin is in really bad shape.

Anonymous said...

If Ms.Thomasson had prior notice of the abuse, then she absolutely deserved to be fired. If she didn't then she has a valid argument that she wasn't treated fair.

I hate when people say "don't fire so-and-so because they've been here 40 years and have done a wonderful job". Some offenses are fireable. If you commit a fireable offense, then it really doesn't matter how long you've been employed or how great of a job you've done. I do a hell of a job where I work. They are lucky to have me. But if I bring cocaine to the office on Monday they should fire me on the spot. That's how it works.

Anonymous said...

What’s the Chief say?

Anonymous said...

So I guess you are more worried about how the investigation was done and exclude the fact that she failed a victim. Her failure led to the continuation of that child being abused.

Anonymous said...

Polygraphs are very subjective and full of confirmation bias. They are voodoo science.

Anonymous said...

There have been numerous posts, comments and personal opinions on this matter. For some idiotic reason, they’re all portraying the former Assistant Chief as the victim. Where’s the support and defense for the actual victim in all of this? This woman is supposed to protect the victim, not sweep it under the rug and act as if nothing happened. What was the reason behind it? Was she paid under the table, did she have ties with the suspect? People need to stop defending the criminals in this and show some support for the true victim. It’s sickening that people choose to support someone who wears a badge that covers up sex crimes.

Anonymous said...

She has a job waiting at RCSO. They need warm bodies.

Anonymous said...

Check your sources, the testimony at the Preliminary Hearing was that NO abuse occurred after the parents found out and addressed the situation.

Anonymous said...

You left out one important piece of information!! “High School Principal Chris Chism” has lawyered up and has not given a statement stating he told anyone! Chief Thomasson spoke freely because she had nothing to hide! Yet she was still terminated. It clears the path for the chief to replace her with one of his “boys”

Anonymous said...

So much speculation and misinformation. Thomasson did not deserve summary dismissal based solely on one alleged omission related to the Webb matter. What people don't know is that the crime was committed when the victim and perpetrator were both minors, children, which is usually a matter handled by youth court. That particular type of crime is not handled the same as adult on minor crime. Thomasson knew and would have known that at the time.

Anonymous said...

"Evidence was presented in the preliminary hearing that then-Pearl High School Principal Chris Chism noticed Thomasson of the abuse nearly two years ago yet no action was taken. The alleged abuse continued."

I this is true, after seeing no signs of an investigation after a few weeks, wouldn't he have an obligation to follow up and/or inform a different LE official? By "no signs of an investigation," I mean no arrests and no one requesting to interview him as a material witness.

Anonymous said...

“Polygraphs are very subjective and full of confirmation bias. They are voodoo science.”

I know this is off-topic, but friend, you have just described what passes for modern science.

Kingfish said...

1:15: There are two charges. One is for what occurred when the victim was under 14 years old and the second was for when under 16 years old. Sources have said more abuse took place during the last two years.

as for your other claim, the court did dismiss the charges against the parents. And this website was about the only one that reported that development.

Anonymous said...

@1:46 PM Very true, making a certain vaccine similar to a polygraph exam.

Anonymous said...

@2:14
Why are you so obsessed with these type of allegations?

Anonymous said...

Unlawful termination suit in 3, 2, 1...

Anonymous said...

DOES IT EVER STOP IN RANKIN COUNTY?
Corrupt cops.
Fights on the reservoir (The culprits almost always from Rankin)
Steroid filled red necks beating his wife almost to death.

Anonymous said...

Rankin County is lost.

Anonymous said...

Board said, somebody’s heads gotta roll. We better chip one before somebody comes for us.

Anonymous said...

October 20, 2023 at 2:24 PM, why do you care, if he is? Are you secretly obligated to read every post? How do you determine when someone is obsessed?

Anonymous said...

@1:26
Regardless of how old the suspect and victim were at the time of the crime, Thomasson was notified of the abuse and FAILED to report it. If I’m not mistaken, that’s her job. The victim was failed by the very person that is supposed to protect them. If it is to be handled in youth court, it first has to be reported to them which it was not apparently. It appears that she kept it quite for personal gain or she’s just a sick individual that couldn’t care less about a child’s well-being. So yes, she most certainly deserved a “summary dismissal”, and in my opinion deserves criminal charges. Thank you to Pearl PD for getting rid of the let downs, too bad she was in the capacity for the time she was. No telling how many other victims she had let down that no one knows about

Anonymous said...

@2:24 It is called news. I, for one, appreciate every thing Kingfish does to keep his readers apprised of the crap happening in Jackson and surrounding area. Also, the word ‘type’ should have an ‘s’ at the end of the word.

Anonymous said...

Could it be she didn't report this because there was nothing to report? The error could have been nothing was documented. Is that an offense to lose your?

Anonymous said...

The child was sexually molested at 14.
The child continued to be raped at 16.
The police were informed of this.
The parents of the perp (their son) knew about this.
I see a Hugh lawsuit for the perp parent's, police, and pearl supervisors.
Let the spice I mean money flow.

Anonymous said...

@1:28 PM, In my understanding of law enforcement procedures, typically when such an allegation is raised, the immediate recommendation from an officer would be to go to the department/office and "Submit an official report in writing, detailing the facts and circumstances, so it can be forwarded to the appropriate investigator." This procedure has been consistent for many years.

It would be anticipated that the assistant chief would act on this. If there was a lapse on her part, it would also be prudent to review the actions of the Chief, the Mayor, the board of aldermen, and all the School District Administrators. It seems the depth of the situation might be more intricate, with the wide-scope potential bias of many towards making her the scapegoat.

To grasp why Rankin currently mirrors Jackson, a closer look at the chief's leadership is essential. His past involvement and current influence appear to be central, given that the department holds significant political sway, which in turn molds its contemporary state.

Anonymous said...

It’s embarrassing to know that this situation has been spelled out in an article that clearly describes all of the faults of Amanda Thomasson. Yet people still don’t seem to understand. The lady failed to report a sexual assault, apparently failed her polygraph with the worst failing score you can get (according to the article), saw her actions to be so unethical and dehumanizing that the board of alderman voted to terminate her but everyone is constantly putting the blame of her failures on the Chief, Mayor and Alderman. Has anyone wondered why the parents apparently didn’t report it again after they saw nothing was done? They all need to be in jail. God I sure pray for that victim because it sure seems that everyone else is fighting harder for the ones that kept it quiet.

Anonymous said...

When speculation masquerades as fact, the train suddenly runs in the ditch.

Half of the posts above suggest 'she' knew of a crime and failed to document it. The other half suggest she failed the minor female by not investigating. Where the hell are you people getting that information? Or is it just more stuff extracted from the anal orifice?

Anonymous said...

It's hard to imagine that there could be some sort of 'home cookin' going on in good old Rankin county! /s

Anonymous said...

@6:02
Can you not read? It clearly says NO CASE HISTORY OR REPORTS, which means she did not report it nor investigate it. So what does that tell us? Her negligence failed the victim. Apparently the then school principal knew of the crime and even though he reported to one of the many people that are supposed to fight for victims, he didn’t care enough to follow up on it. Or he was involved in sweeping it under the rug, we may never know. Bottom line is, the victim was brutally failed by the person(s) that were supposed to fight for them. It appears you need to remove your head from your anal orifice.

Charlie said...

It’s “Sergeant”…

6:02 said...

@ 8:44. Thank you for helping make my point at 6:02.

I asked where are you people getting this information. You illustrated perfectly by stating: "APPARENTLY the school principal knew", "He didn't care enough to follow up", "Or he was involved in sweeping it under the rug", "we may never know" and, finally, "It appears".

A classic post of presumption, speculation and wild (out of the ass) guessing.

Well, it's a new day, Saturday. What's on your speculation plate this morning?

Anonymous said...

Corrupt people in a backward county commit despicable acts—more news at 11.

Anonymous said...

This is, of course, not for publication, and this is, of course, only me speaking for myself, but when it comes to these sex cases, I am highly skeptical of anything any female says. But y’all go ahead and splutter with indignation if that’s what you need.

Anonymous said...

So, before convicting anyone here, was the principal going to the ACoP the proper procedure? Where’s the paperwork? Where is the interview? None of this sounds official at all. And, her knowing of the crime is hearsay at best. Hardly enough for an instant dismissal while training in another state.

I feel terrible for the real victim - she was failed by her school, law enforcement, and those around her that could have done something. Perhaps the principal was making an informal request? If so, why? Whoever in this thread said there are other connections to be uncovered here. I agree.

Anonymous said...

It's never best practice to fire an employee with zero communication leading up to that decision and, and at least allow the employee to state her case. An exception to that would be the existence of an extremely dangerous situation.

Haley Cook said...

The way that this whole thing is literal HEARSAY but no one is talking about that? But when it was hearsay in a Celebrity court case **cough cough** Johnny vs Amber **cough** it was all the rage. Can anyone make that make sense?

Anonymous said...

And we wait for this to finally happen in Brandon…

Anonymous said...

Y’all would be amazed on how police departments in the surrounding areas are treating their employees and running off good people. Unfortunately, evil is taking over.


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