by DAVID HAMILTON

NATCHEZ — Although not official yet, former Vicksburg Police Chief Walter Armstrong has been tapped as the new Natchez Police Chief.

The board of aldermen must vote to approve Armstrong at its next meeting.

Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell said although all five candidates were “great,” Armstrong’s extensive experience separated him from the other four applicants. Prior to Armstrong’s eight-year stint as Vicksburg police chief, he spent 25 years as a state trooper.

Armstrong helped the VPD become one of 27 accredited police departments in Mississippi, an accomplishment Grennell said he considered impressive.

Grennell also said Armstrong’s leadership skills and “impressive record of solving crimes” made Armstrong the best candidate to help the Natchez Police Department “move forward.”

After a closed-door discussion with the board of aldermen Thursday, Grennell said he met with Armstrong and asked the potential NPD chief if he would accept the job.

Grennell said the entire board of aldermen agreed that Armstrong is the best candidate.

“Every alderman agreed with me,” he said. “We were all unanimous on it.”

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis also said Thursday the aldermen were in total agreement. Arceneaux-Mathis said the board narrowed down the list to two candidates, with Armstrong as the “frontrunner.”

“The board basically agreed verbally to negotiate with the frontrunner,” Arceneaux-Mathis said.

Arceneaux-Mathis declined to identify the runner-up candidate.

Having consulted with the board, Grennell later met with Armstrong Thursday afternoon to gauge whether Armstrong would accept the job.

Armstrong obliged, effectively bringing the search to a close.

“I’m extremely excited to be selected by the entire board (of aldermen) as the police chief for the City of Natchez,” Armstrong said.

Among many of his aspirations for the department, Armstrong said one of his main focuses would be engaging the community and developing a relationship between Natchez police officers and citizens.

“We will be looking for every opportunity to speak to the citizens … to hear their concerns and learn how to better serve them,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong will not officially be appointed chief, however, until the aldermen hold a vote. Grennell said that vote would take place July 31 at a special call meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Council Chambers building.

Grennell said Armstrong would begin his tenure as NPD chief Aug. 1, with Interim Police Chief Shawn T. King — who was also a candidate — retaining the position in the meantime.

Listed alphabetically, the other three NPD candidates were:

4Retired Baton Rouge police officer Rudolph A. Babin;

4Rankin County Deputy Sheriff Joseph Daughtry.

4Natchez Police Captain Scott Frye.