Jackson City Council confirms Dr. Rachelle Brackney as police chief, 6–1, after salary-cap questions

Dr. Rachelle Brackney was confirmed 6–1 by the Jackson City Council on Feb. 24 as the city’s next police chief after a confirmation hearing in which council members pressed her on gangs, blight, staffing and department culture. The council’s vote followed an extended question-and-answer session and a brief debate about whether the confirmation document should also change the pay cap for the position.

Brackney, who introduced herself to the council and audience and described decades of policing and reform experience, framed her approach around transparency, data-driven deployment and community partnerships. “Jackson is the city of peace, entrepreneurship and higher education and, more importantly, a city of possibility,” she told the council in her opening remarks. She said effective crime reduction and constitutional policing “reinforce one another.”

In response to questions about gangs and youth recruitment, Brackney said the department must gather better intelligence, target predatory groups strategically and partner with state and federal agencies and community organizations. On blight, she recommended environmental scans and integrating public-safety planning into early stages of economic development so safety is not an afterthought.

When asked about departmental morale and promotions, Brackney proposed transparent criteria, outside assessors for promotions and clear career pathways. Citing reforms she implemented in Charlottesville, she described public reporting of stops, use-of-force incidents and internal-affairs outcomes as tools to build legitimacy. She said she had fired 10 officers in Charlottesville for serious misconduct and emphasized working with prosecutors when warranted.

Council members pressed Brackney on budget and staffing figures. She told the council that overtime costs appear to be running “between $800,000 and close to $1,000,000” and that the department’s staffing appeared to be about 239 sworn officers while being budgeted for roughly 275. She said she planned an inventory and full assessment of equipment and training needs before making precise budget requests.

A separate point of contention during the meeting was salary. A council speaker advocating for the nominee said a $150,000 salary was appropriate to attract top candidates and cited comparable markets; others said the council must follow pay-cap procedures and either amend the cap today or bring a proposal at a future meeting. City Attorney Drew Martin advised the council that “the confirmation order as drafted does not address salary” and that the council could increase the pay cap by amendment or at a later meeting.

After the vote, Brackney thanked supporters in the chamber. She said she must give her current employer 30 days’ notice and indicated she expects to be available to start on or about April 1. The city council adjourned shortly after the confirmation vote.

The council did not immediately amend the salary cap during the special meeting; members asked the administration to prepare options for a future meeting so the council can consider any pay-cap change with the appropriate procedural steps.