UPDATE: Concordia Sheriff’s Office deputy standing in as Ferriday Police Chief after chief, several officers resigned

FERRIDAY, La. — Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputy Marcellus Cummings is the acting chief of the Ferriday Police Department while Ferriday officials look for a permanent replacement for Chief Clarence “C.J.” Hall Jr.

Hall and three or four other officers turned in their resignation papers on Friday because of Mayor Alvin Garrison’s interference with the department, he said. Hall and Garrison both took their oath of office on July 1.

Hall would not elaborate further on the interference, but the resignations come shortly after the suspension of police officer Oliver Robinson III due to felony arrest warrants in Van Buren County, Arkansas, theft greater than $5,000 and forgery.

Garrison on Friday said Robinson, who lived in Little Rock, Arkansas, before coming to work again for Ferriday Police Department last week, claimed the warrants were issued because his identity was stolen in Arkansas. At that time, Garrison said Robinson would return to work when his charges in Arkansas were “cleared up.”

However, Garrison said Robinson was no longer employed by the department and had not returned to work since going to Van Buren County on Friday and was released. Robinson was told he’d have to appear in court to prove whether he is innocent or guilty of the charges.

Garrison said Robinson was hired Monday before his background check was completed. The warrants for his arrest were found Thursday after the background check, he said.

“As soon as we had the background check Concordia Sheriff’s Office picked him up,” Garrison said. “We let him go and he’s no longer with the department.”

Garrison said he did not ask why or speak with Hall or the officers who resigned and didn’t know why they did.

“I couldn’t tell you. They decided to get up and leave. They brought their resignation papers and turned them in to the clerk. I didn’t ask them why and didn’t speak to them.”

Garrison couldn’t say how many officers remain at the department but said that “all shifts are covered with some officers off-duty. We only need to fill the Chief of Police position.”

A statement from CPSO says Sheriff David Hedrick spoke with Garrison and will “support the Town of Ferriday in any way possible,” though there is no formal agreement between CPSO and the Town of Ferriday. CPSO, along with the Louisiana State Police have committed to regularly patrolling Ferriday.

Hedrick allowed Cummings to stand in as the Ferriday Police Department Chief until a more permanent plan is in place and was able to schedule shifts with the remaining FPD officers, he said, adding he “feels that it is important to keep Ferriday just as safe as any other place in Concordia Parish.”

Hedrick also said he has offered to work with Garrison to vet a new chief for the Ferriday Police Department.

The post UPDATE: Concordia Sheriff’s Office deputy standing in as Ferriday Police Chief after chief, several officers resigned appeared first on Mississippi's Best Community Newspaper .