By Ray King
Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington said Tuesday she has offered the position of police chief to Robert Jones who is currently the police chief in Kingsland, Georgia, and who, according to Washington, was the top choice of the search committee formed to find a replacement for retiring Chief Kelvin Sergeant.
Washington was interviewed on Deltaplex Radio by Greg Horne and Wil Jenkins and Horne asked her if she had offered Jones the job.
The City Council would have to approve any increase in the salary of the police chief and Washington said she believed that would require at least four votes with her breaking a tie but hoped she could get at least five so she wouldn’t have to break a tie.
Since being elected Mayor in 2016, Washington has had to fill the position of police chief twice and both times chose to elevate former assistant chiefs, Ivan Whitfield and Sergeant, to the top spot.
This time, however, she said she felt it necessary to go outside and bring in someone new.
Washington said if Jones decides not to come to Pine Bluff, the search would continue.
