New Pine Bluff mayor fires police chief | News

PINE BLUFF, Ark. (KTHV) -- Hours after taking the oath of office, Pine Bluff's new Mayor Debe Hollingsworth met with Police Chief Brenda Davis-Jones and fired her.

"If you know that's a decision that needs to be made why delay?" said Mayor Hollingsworth.

The mayor said Tuesday she called Davis-Jones to her office.

"The termination process went very, very smooth.  It took less than five minutes," said Mayor Hollingsworth.

She said the decision to terminate Davis-Jones came after talking to residents along the campaign trail.

The former chief's two-and-a-half-year tenure had its share of controversy, including a no-confidence vote from her own officers last March.

And then in May of 2011 the department admitted it made mistakes regarding new developments in the 20-year murder case of Cleashindra Hall.

Mayor Hollingsworth has named retired police Lieutenant Jeff Hubanks as interim chief.

She said Lieutenant Hubanks is a 27-year veteran of the department.

Mayor Hollingswoth said she will now work to create a civil service commission.

"We're plugged into what the needs are and now it's time to fulfill those need and that part's fun," said Mayor Hollingsworth.

Twitter @dan_wilkerson