NATCHEZ &045;Willie B. Jones has a new job with the City of Natchez &045; assisting the city’s code enforcement officer.

On a 4-3 vote, Mayor Phillip West and aldermen in October rehired Jones as a police officer, although the city attorney said only the Civil Service Commission could do so.

On Monday, then-Officer Jones was placed on leave from the Natchez Police Department after a state board last week revoked his officer’s certification due to past conduct.

But Mayor West on Wednesday reassigned Jones to the Planning Department to work with Code Enforcement Officer Artemis Evans, a job to which Jones reported Wednesday morning.

Police Chief Mike Mullins said he was asked by Mayor West and Alderman Theodore &uot;Bubber&uot; West to suggest civilian positions in which Jones might be placed. One suggestion was code enforcement officer.

Personnel Director Patricia Gibson could not be reached Wednesday for information on Jones’ new title, job description or salary. Jones did not return a call seeking comment.

While Mayor West could not be reached for comment Wednesday, Alderman and Mayor Pro Tem David Massey said the reassignment of Jones &uot;hurts the integrity of the mayor and the Board of Aldermen.

&uot;Jones is someone who, on the unanimous decision of the State Board (of Law Enforcement Standards and Training), was stopped from being a law enforcement officer in the state of Mississippi, but he can enforce the codes of the City of Natchez.&uot;

Massey, who said Wednesday’s news was the first he had heard of Jones’ new job, pointed out the city’s code enforcement officer can issue tickets for violations of city codes such as litter, unkempt properties and sign ordinance violations.

Jones new position &uot;is something the city didn’t have before. A new job has been created for this person, and I don’t understand it,&uot; Massey said.

Mullins said Jones’ departure does not leave the Police Department short on manpower, since officers stationed at schools are back at the department for the summer.

Alderman Bob Pollard said at the EDA’s Wednesday meeting Jones’ hiring on a split vote, subsequent actions by the city and publicity about such actions send a message to industrial prospects that they’re dealing with a city divided.

&uot;There’s going to be negative publicity,&uot; Pollard said, referring to this article, &uot;and it’s not going to be pretty.&uot;

Industrial prospects &uot;don’t want to move where there’s controversy,&uot; EDA Chairman Woody Allen responded, with EDA Director Michael Ferdinand noting there’s a prospect in town Wednesday and today.

On Monday, Mullins had placed Officer Willie B. Jones on administrative leave with pay pending a decision by Natchez aldermen and Mayor Phillip West on Jones’ employment.

Last week, Standards and Training cancelled Jones’ certification for the next two years based on the board’s review of past conduct by Jones.

In 1997, Jones allegedly offered a fellow officer $260 not to pursue a drug charge against a relative of Jones’ then-fiance.

Jones resigned before an investigation into the matter was finished and was later arrested in the case. Jones was charged with felony obstruction of justice but pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge. The charge was expunged, or wiped from his record, late last year.

A person who been out of law enforcement for two years or more must be approved by Standards and Training to attend a refresher course prior to being re-certified.

Mayor West said Monday he was waiting on written notification of the decision from Standards and Training before he and aldermen determine how to handle Jones’ employment.