Former Columbia Police Department Officer James “Jamie” Moulds, who is named in a lawsuit alleging misconduct and sexual assault, illegally worked for the CPD after his certification lapsed during the time of the alleged incident.
Moulds completed self-sponsored training at the Southern Regional Public Safety Institute in 2013 and received his BLEOST certification, according to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s Office of Law Enforcement Standards & Training. However, Moulds was out of law enforcement for more than five years, rendering his certification invalid. He would have needed to complete a 200-hour refresher course to validate his certification once again.
Moulds was hired by the Columbia Police Department on Jan. 2, 2024, and former Columbia Police Chief Michael Kelly was notified on Feb. 2, 2024 that Moulds needed to complete the refresher course, which did not occur. Kelly was notified by Donna Rogers Perkins of the Office of Law Enforcement Standards & Training on Aug. 8, 2024 that Moulds must be reassigned to a non-law enforcement position until he could complete the training or be terminated.
Moulds was also employed by the Magee and Collins police departments, and neither reported his employment to the Office of Law Enforcement Standards & Training.
Moulds was among the resignations announced at the Columbia Board of Aldermen’s meeting Aug. 20, effective Aug. 16. However, Rogers Perkins informed the C-P his employment ended Aug. 13.
Edgar Vazquez, in addition to Moulds, is not POST certified, according to Rogers Perkins. Vazquez was listed in January 2023 as an officer for the CPD and as a school security officer in January 2024.
Vazquez completed a self-sponsor course through the Columbia Law Enforcement Training Academy in 2022 and was issued a certificate of completion. However, he was not able to get certified because he is not a legal citizen of the United States. Vazquez is a DACA recipient.
Columbia Mayor Justin McKenzie could not immediately be reached for comment.
