A no-confidence vote on Police Chief Brenda Davis-Jones was taken by a professional organization that represents the majority of Pine Bluff officers, according to its representatives.
The vote indicates the officers have no confidence in Davis-Jones’ ability to lead the department, said Scott Hicks, president of the Arkansas Division of the Police Benevolent Association, in a presentation Monday to the Pine Bluff City Council.
“The chapter made the decision to take this vote due to Chief Davis-Jones’ inconsistent disciplinary practices and inability to follow department procedure consistently,” Hicks said, reading from an official statement. “The PBA’s lack of confidence is with Chief Davis-Jones and her lack of leadership within the department. The chief on multiple occasions has shown that she does not enforce discipline equally or consistently. The lack of disciplinary consistency has become a huge barrier within the department.”
Davis-Jones left after the Public Safety Committee meeting and did not return for the full council meeting. She did not return a phone message left on her city cell phone seeking comment.
Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr. said the vote was “just an opinion being stated.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Redus hired Davis-Jones in June 2010.
“I truly still have full confidence in the chief and continue to expect her to carry on with the good job she’s been doing for the city,” Redus said after the council meeting.
Hicks said that 86 PBPD officers are members of the PBA South Central Chapter. There are 151 uniformed employees total with the police department. Hicks did not have figures for how many members were present at the Feb. 23 meeting when the no-confidence vote was taken, but said the majority of those present voted that they had no confidence in the chief.
“The members of the South Central Arkansas Chapter of PBA feel that the citizens and members of the city council should be made aware of the lack of trust and confidence that the officers within the department have for Chief Davis-Jones,” Hicks said. “The members of the Pine Bluff Police Department will continue to serve the citizens of Pine Bluff with the same care and dedication that they always have given.”
Hicks also said the PBA is in favor of a proposed ordinance from Alderman Steven Mays that would restore the Civil Service Commission. Hicks cited the officers’ lack of confidence in Davis-Jones’ handling of disciplinary matters as part of the reason the group is in favor of the return of the Civil Service Commission. Mays’ proposal was read once at Monday’s meeting and must undergo two additional readings before it can be voted upon.