Residents urge Columbus council to search within department for next police chief

Community members and a police detective asked Columbus council members during Tuesday’s meeting to look for a replacement for current police chief Freddie Blackmon from within the department after Blackmon accepted a severance package last week.

“I ask that you not make the situation worse by hiring someone from Kansas or California,” Marvin Broadwater Sr. said, adding that assistant chief Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick should be promoted.

Broadwater helped organize a rally in support of Blackmon last month and criticized the council’s decision to offer him a severance package. Broadwater said the key to reducing crime in the area is to consider Blackmon’s strategic plan, which included hiring more officers, increasing supplemental pay for officers and offering officers college tuition reimbursement, among other incentives.

CPD Det. Christy Edenfield thanked the council for offering Blackmon a severance package.

“I’m thankful that you guys stuck through, ignored the race-baiters, the political agendas for whatever they may have in mind and you stood strong and you made a decision that you believe was best for the department and the city,” said Edenfield. “And for people to claim that someone has to vote solely based on race is asinine.”

Edenfield is the vice president of the Columbus chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, which has been critical of Blackmon in the past. The police officer heading that group, Lt. Ralph Dowe, who is white, has sued the city on claims that he was denied promotion because of his race.

A study by consulting firm Jensen Hughes, which was a catalyst for Blackmon’s departure, relied in part on a survey of FOP members. The Jensen Hughes report found the police department not only was losing experienced personnel, but failing to retain new officers, once they were fully trained. Officers complained of low morale, poor communications from leadership, and micromanagement.

Edenfield said their are capable people within the department to fill in as the interim chief for the department. She suggested Herman Miles, Debra Kennedy and Lance Deaton for the position of interim chief.

“We have to have strong leadership at this department to combat the violent crime in this city,” she said. “Those of you who stand up here and preach about this was racist, I don’t see any of you out there in that community consoling the families. I don’t see any of you out their doing anything to stop the violence of the street.”

Mark Lawrence, raised in Columbus and now a pastor in Fortson, took issue with Edenfield’s comments.

“To hear someone say ‘well nobody’s doing anything,’ that’s wrong especially at the podium and the police officer saying it,” said Lawrence.

He said her comments were out of place and out of order.

Blackmon, who has been with the department since 1986, will officially retire April 30.

This story was originally published April 12, 2023 at 5:00 AM.