The City of Natchez has officially named Lee Best as its next chief of police following a closely contested decision by the mayor and board of aldermen Monday night.
Best emerged as the selected candidate after a multi-step hiring process that began with eight applicants. The Natchez Civil Service Commission conducted initial interviews and ultimately recommended five finalists for consideration. One candidate later withdrew, leaving four individuals to be interviewed by city leadership during a closed session that began at 4:30 p.m. and concluded around 7:30 p.m.
Shortly after returning to open session, Ward 3 Alderwoman Sarah Carter Smith made the motion to appoint Best as police chief, with Ward 6 Alderman Curtis Moroney seconding the motion.
“We had excellent interviews tonight and I thank each and every one of them for being here,” Smith said. “But one candidate did stand out from the rest and will be the best fit for this important time in our history.”
Ward 2 Alderman Billie Joe Frazier, a former longtime Natchez police officer, voiced opposition, arguing that the hiring process did not follow Civil Service guidelines.
“I want the public to hear this,” Frazier said. “We made this person who was a patrol officer a commander and now we are making him a chief of police. We are violating the rules and guidelines of Civil Service.”
Ward 4 Alderwoman Felicia Bridgewater-Irving echoed those concerns.
“We did not follow the proper protocol,” she said. “It does not allow you to increase morale when you see the procedure was not followed through with.”
Moroney said he conducted extensive research on each candidate, including speaking with individuals who had worked alongside them.
“Lee Best is the best to lead the City of Natchez Police Department forward,” Moroney said. “I came into these interviews with a completely open mind.”
Ward 1 Alderwoman Valencia Hall also supported Best, noting that the Civil Service Commission presented a strong group of finalists.
Despite those assurances, Frazier warned the decision could result in legal action.
“This process is a sham,” he said. “Somebody is going to sue us, and it may come to the point that I might file suit against the city.”
The board ultimately split 3-3 on the motion, with Hall, Smith and Moroney voting in favor, and Frazier, Bridgewater-Irving and Alderman Ben Davis voting against. Mayor Dan Gibson cast the tie-breaking vote in support of Best.
“We have very carefully gone about this process,” Gibson said, noting that the job description had been vetted by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. “We are making a decision tonight that affects the next 50 years of this department. It is time for us to look to a new generation of leadership.”
Best brings more than a decade of law enforcement experience to the role. He began his career in 2010 with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, where he rose to the rank of captain. His experience includes serving as a narcotics investigator, training manager, and criminal investigator. He also led the Adams County Regional Counterdrug Task Force and worked with the DEA Task Force during Operation Get Wright, the largest drug bust in county history.
In December 2024, Best joined the Natchez Police Department as commander of code enforcement.
Following his appointment, Best expressed gratitude and enthusiasm for his new role.
“This is absolutely the highlight of my career,” he said. “I look forward to serving the Natchez Police Department and the citizens of the City of Natchez.”
this article first appeared in The Natchez Democrat, to see their article click here
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