Indianola residents received some disheartening news last week when Police Chief Edrick Hall and Mayor Steve Rosenthal confirmed that Hall has been chosen to fill the assistant chief’s position in Columbus and could possibly be leaving the department.
News of Hall’s imminent departure, this summer, to accept a new position led to an outpouring of articulations on Facebook.
Several citizens and business owners have also verbally shared their dismay at the possibility of Hall’s departure.
Hall called the situation bittersweet, adding that he came to the Indianola department with two major goals in mind. First, he wanted to bring the department together and second, he wanted to cultivate an understanding between the city and the department on how law enforcement works in the community.
The 18-year law enforcement veteran said that if he does decide to leave he hopes that the city, the department and the community would continue to work together “hand in hand.”
Likewise, he is hopeful that the city lawmakers and the mayor along with the department heads will all work in cooperation. “Because if we get to a point where everybody is doing their job and working together with one common goal, then we can accomplish the city of Indianola that I desire to see,” Hall said, “And I know it’s there.”
Hall expressed that he just wishes everyone would remember, especially during the tough times, that all have a common goal, “a better Indianola.” He asserts that part of his difficulty in arriving at a decision centers on his certainty of the potential that lies within the city.
Last week Hall told the E-T that he was elated to have been chosen for the Columbus position, but he was still in prayer about accepting it and not yet 100 percent certain of whether he will make the move.
On Tuesday, Hall said that he has yet to submit a letter of resignation to Rosenthal and that he and the mayor are talking each day about the future of the department. He has assured that he will not keep the city in limbo, but will make a decision soon.
Even though he has been in conversation with the mayor and certain members of the board of aldermen about staying, Hall acknowledges that it is the response from the citizens that has touched his heart most.
Nevertheless, the Indianola Board of Aldermen did hold a special meeting on Thursday and voted to advertise for a new chief.
Rosenthal said that the decision was simply a proactive move and they did not want to wait until the last minute just in case Hall does decide to leave.
If Hall accepts the offer he will likely start the new job in July. He maintains that he is committed to leaving the department in a better position than it was when he started. He mentioned several impending projects that he would like to see completed before he moves on.
In addition to coordinating security for the upcoming B.B. King Homecoming Festival on June 2, he is working on a grant for the department and still taking steps to strengthen the department’s policies and procedures.
Rosenthal said last week. “I congratulate Chief Hall on his promotion to a much better police force and greater responsibility.
I am confident that he will move their police department up as he has done here in Indianola.”
Since Hall took over the Indianola department, the city has witnessed a decrease in violent crimes and an increase in citations and arrests. Rosenthal said. “Chief Hall, during his tenure here has turned IPD into one of the most respected and professional police departments in this part of the state.”
In addition to reducing crime, Hall is also credited with boosting the morale in the department, which was reportedly low when he assumed the office.
Rosenthal said. “He has put systems in place that have boosted morale and improved officer performance. I hate for him to leave us but I'm proud of what he has done for all of the citizens of Indianola and wish him well in his new position.”
According to The Columbus Dispatch, the first to break the news of Hall’s appointment, the Columbus City Council unanimously approved Hall for the position.
Hall called it a conditional hire because he has pre-employment screenings that have to be completed such as a drug test and a physical, but that is considered routine.
If he accepts the position, Hall would have to relocate to Columbus, which would mean he would need to leave his departmental “family” as he warmly refers to them..
He said he came to the city in an attempt to make it better. He left two jobs to take the Indianola position. Hall was chief of the Sunflower County Consolidated School District and also chief of the Inverness department before accepting the position at Indianola. “My vision for the city that I call my own was above any salary or anything else,” Hall said.
According to him, he felt that in order to make a difference he had to do more than just talk about making a difference, he had to try to be better for the city. He said his departure will not be hasty or abrupt but a smooth transition to try and keep the department moving ahead. He wants the citizens to also keep him in their prayers.
The beloved chief conveyed his gratitude to the individual citizens, churches and other organizations as well as city leaders for their support of him and his efforts to move the department forward.
“Whether I am here or whether I am gone, the things that they did completely changed my life and changed the department and changed the city as a whole.”
