ABERDEEN, Miss. (WTVA) -- Aberdeen Police Chief Henry Randle questions the motive.
He questions Tuesday's 3-2 vote by the Aberdeen Board of Aldermen to change the city's charter where the police chief is appointed instead of elected.
The city's attorney John Dudley Williams says this is an effort by the board to remove references of slavery from the charter. He also says there's nothing personal about this.
Randle makes references to a personal conflict with officials but makes a bigger issue out of voting rights. He says the move would take those rights away from the citizens.
"You work for years trying to get voters rights, and to be taken away just because of who it is in office right now, I strongly disagree with that," Chief Randle said.
The chief questions the timing of this process as officials voted years ago to remove the language and started that process but for no reason given are picking it back up now.
"They're doing this basically because they believe this is the right thing to do now," Dudley added.
We asked some people in the city about this issue.
"I'm leaning toward people being appointed and qualified instead of just elected into a position," Bridget Williams said.
"I feel like they should have the privilege to be able to vote instead of somebody to appoint," Dewanna Standifer said.
"They should be elected. Why? Because they are the people's choice, not some person's choice," Wayne Dardy said.
"I feel like the chief should be elected and not appointed because they have been elected for years," Antonia Rogers said.
The board's intention to change the charter is being published locally. Residents will have a chance to object.
Meanwhile, the police chief is now in the process of gathering signatures to get this issue on the ballot.
