'Unacceptable': Selma mayor places police chief on leave after weekend violence

SELMA − Selma Mayor James Perkins wants a new police chief, but that decision is up to the city council.

The mayor placed Chief Kenta Fulford on administrative leave with pay Tuesday afternoon about 4 p.m. In a Wednesday afternoon news conference at City Hall, Perkins made allegations against Fulford including insubordination and conduct unbecoming a city employee, either while on or off duty, as well as other actions the mayor called “unacceptable.”

The city council has appointment power for the chief’s position and city policy requires the council to have a hearing about Fulford being placed on leave. Fulford watched the Wednesday news conference in the council chambers while dressed in blue jeans and a blue and white stripped pullover Polo shirt.

After the news conference, which took about half an hour, Fulford declined to comment on specifics. He told several uniformed officers at the news conference that they could speak to the press if they wished without threat of any retaliation. Those officers declined to comment at the time.

“I will say this, there were a lot of untruths said, and it will come out,” Fulford said, walking down the stairs.

Fulford was appointed chief during former Mayor Dario Melton’s administration, coming up from a lieutenant’s post. Selma personnel policy would have Fulford return to his previous rank if the council removes him as chief, Perkins said.

“I don’t want to be here. I told the council and put it in writing that I would have a hands-off approach (to the running of the police department),” Perkins said. “But there are times as a public official you have to change your mind.”

This issue came to a head Tuesday following Selma High School and the Selma alternative school going to virtual learning Monday due to security concerns. There were two shootings the previous weekend involving juveniles, and authorities were concerned the trouble would spill over to the schools, Perkins said.

In a Friday shooting, a juvenile was shot in the head and suffered life-threatening injuries, and another teen was shot at the same location Saturday and suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Fulford pledged to school officials that normal classes could return Tuesday since there would be an increased law enforcement presence from Selma police at Selma High, Perkins said. Selma schools Superintendent Zickeyous Byrd could not immediately be reached for comment. The mayor said he went to the school about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and there were no officers on campus.

He said the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office was called and deputies responded. About 9 a.m. Fulford and other officers responded to Selma High, the mayor said.

An elevated law enforcement presence from the police department was seen at the campus the remainder of Tuesday and on Wednesday.

Perkins also spoke about division and low morale in the police department. “The lack of leadership on behalf of the police chief meant that this option had to be taken,” Perkins said of the leave.

Perkins accused the city council of “micromanaging the mayor’s office.” Several officers met with the mayor Tuesday in his office for what Perkins called a “listening session.” He declined to comment about what was discussed in the meeting, saying the officers could comment if they wanted to.

Perkins pledged that public safety is his priority and spoke to allay any fears of Selma citizens. “Those officers in my office, and I have spoken to other officers, assured me they will respond to calls,” Perkins said.

This marks the second time Perkins has placed Fulford on leave. The first was in the aftermath of the January 2023 tornado that struck the city causing wide-spread damage. At the time Fulford was in training in Dothan and Perkins felt he did not return to the city quick enough after the tornado. After he spent about 30 days on leave, the city council returned Fulford to the chief’s post.

During this leave Perkins has not appointed an interim chief. Assistant Chief Natasha Fowlkes will handle the operations of the department, he said.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Selma police chief placed on leave after weekend violence