Video: One Local Police Department Is Losing Six Officers

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Multiple police officers handed in their resignations to the Columbus Police Department.

The department is losing six officers from an already under-staffed force.

During Tuesday’s Mayor and city council meeting, the council accepted five letters of resignations and one letter of retirement from Columbus police officers.

Columbus Police Chief Oscar Lewis said he spoke with a few of the officers about their resignations, but not all of them.

The police chief said officers are leaving for various reasons including going to work for another department and higher pay.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Mayor Robert Smith, along with a few other councilman, all expressed their concerns about this many officers leaving at one time.

However, Chief Lewis said people shouldn’t look at the numbers, instead they should look at what’s going on.

He said the crime rate has gone down and despite Monday’s shooting death, Lewis said things are going good in the city.

Lewis also pointed out that residents in Columbus have no need to worry about the number of officers that are leaving.

“The only thing I’m here for is to ensure the citizens of Columbus that they will not suffer any loss as far as protections and services from the Columbus police department,” said Chief Lewis. “If that means me getting out and having to work a shift alongside these guys to ensure that happens, that’s what I’ll do.”

Lewis also recommended to the mayor and council that his current officers should receive a pay raise for their commitment and hard work.

One new officer was hired on Tuesday, and the department is actively recruiting.