The Columbia Board of Aldermen voted unanimously Tuesday to fire Assistant Police Chief Rita Pickering.
City officials declined to give a reason, citing personnel matters.
In all, the board accepted the departure of five officers Tuesday (three resignations, two terminations) and added one. Police Chief Kelly told aldermen he plans to bring recommendations of new hires to the next board meeting.
“We’re in the process of recruiting some very good folks,” he said.
The decision to fire the assistant chief came after an hour-long, closed door session between aldermen, Kelly, Mayor Justin McKenzie and City Attorney Lawrence Hahn.
After reopening the meeting, Hahn reported that Alderman Mike Smith had made a motion while in closed session to terminate Pickering and it had been seconded by Alderman Wendell Hammond. The board then voted 5-0 in open session to approve the motion, with Smith, Hammond, Anna Evans, Edward Hough and Jason Stringer all in favor.
Kelly declined to comment after the vote, saying he couldn’t discuss personnel matters. McKenzie deferred comment to Hahn, who also declined to comment, citing personnel matters.
Pickering declined to comment when reached by phone after the meeting.
The Lamar County native and three-decade law enforcement veteran had worked for the Police Department since July 2015. She had been captain of investigations before being promoted to assistant chief in April 2018 following the March 2018 resignation of Police Chief Mike Cooper and hiring of Kelly.
The board also voted after its executive session to terminate part-time officer Adam Whalum, who is now working for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
At the beginning of the meeting, the board had accepted the resignation of three officers, including Inv. Jonathon Martin, who is going to work for T.L. Wallace Construction.
Also resigning were Lt. David Ezell, a patrol commander, and Patrolman Dylan Powell, who went to work for Walthall County, Kelly said.
The board also transferred Davy Bass from reserve to a regular officer. Kelly said Bass works 14 on, 14 off on oil rigs and wanted to work on his days off.
