Residents and taxpayers in Natchez deserve some answers. For months now, we’ve heard the talk on the street — both during and after the mayoral election — that the city’s police chief would be fired once Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith took office.

This talk is counterproductive to the business of running a city government and, more important, to the business of protecting the public, which is Police Chief Willie Huff’s job.

It is important to note here that Huff is a civil service employee, and as such cannot simply be fired at the whim of the mayor and the board of aldermen.

Instead, just cause must be proven, and any termination of a police chief must follow civil service guidelines.

That is what concerns us.

This talk — &uot;rumors&uot; as the chief has labeled them — continue as no one steps forward to offer specific concerns about his performance. It’s just talk … but it’s talk that has the mayor &uot;reserving any decisions at this point&uot; on Huff’s future.

This situation is more than just exasperating, as the police chief called it on Friday.

It is counterproductive.

If Mayor Smith or any of the city residents leading the street talk have specific concerns about the police chief’s performance, they are obligated to raise those concerns to the public and the taxpayers. Then, the civil service process can take over and a full review of the police chief’s performance will take place. The system will be allowed to work — and Huff will either keep his job or lose it.

But if no one is willing, or able, to provide specifics and details, this uncertainty needs to be put to rest, with Mayor Smith stepping forward as the leader to do just that.

Then, Chief Huff and Mayor Smith could go about the business of taking care of our city and our safety.