JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – A Jackson City Council member is continuing to push an ordinance that would shift parts of the Planning and Development Department into the Jackson Police Department.

Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes said the move would place people with arrest powers over responsibilities he believes directly impact neighborhood safety. He also said the shift would redirect money he claims is not being used properly under the current Planning and Development structure, with the goal of funding additional crime-fighting technology for JPD.

Stokes identified community improvement and code enforcement as the two divisions he wants moved to JPD.

“Number one, going to be community improvement. I think it’s really important that when citizens call to get some help in some of these neighborhoods where they’re experiencing all kinds of problems, they need to see a police officer,” Stokes said. “I think we need to make sure code enforcement is over there in police. With all the problems we have in housing in the city of Jackson, squatters and all other things, the police officers must be the ones to make this problem disappear.”

Stokes said he does not yet know how much money the reorganization would free up. He also said he has not spoken directly with JPD Chief RaShall Brackney about the proposal.

Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it and include the headline of the story in your email.