Former Pine Bluff Police Chief Brenda Davis-Jones
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. 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