Watts Steps Down After Crime Drop | Jackson News

Wendell Watts, the veteran cop who helped slash Jackson’s homicides by nearly 40% during his second stint as assistant chief, has been let go by new Chief RaShall Brackney — a move Watts calls heartbreaking but respectful, as he prioritized serving the city over his own tenure. Watts, who once built Gluckstadt’s first police force, returned to Jackson in 2023 under Chief Wade and helped lead the city’s crime drop from 118 to 75 homicides in just three years. Though he had been a top contender for chief after Wade’s exit, his at-will status made his departure inevitable under Brackney’s new vision — a shift common in law enforcement leadership changes. The department hasn’t confirmed his exit or named a replacement. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/e59867a80a398056