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The reason, he said, was his role as chairman of the state board that hears law enforcement certification appeals, one of which could involve Tupelo Deputy Police Chief Robert Hall.
"This is a direct attack against me because of my appointment to the Board of (Law Enforcement Officers) Standards and Training," Johnson said in a prepared statement after complaints were aired by the Coalition of African-American Organizations at a Lee County Board of Supervisors meeting.
Afterward, Johnson told the Daily Journal that Mayor Jack Reed Jr. has repeatedly "demanded" that the sheriff help Hall get recertified in a way that Johnson said violates his ethics.
Reed acknowledged later in a statement that he had talked to the sheriff about Hall, but called Johnson's reference to demands being made "a blatant mischaracterization of our conversations. I certainly have directly asked him for his help if the application comes forward because I'm convinced this would be best for our citizens."
The Coalition of African-American Organizations said Johnson had little diversity in the upper echelon of his staff and demanded a remedy by the Board of Supervisors.
If the board refuses, said group spokesman Kenneth Mayfield, members will file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Mayfield and two others spoke out against the Sheriff's Department. They also denounced Lee County's Justice Court, saying the staff is rude and unhelpful and that the judges aren't available as often as they should be.
"The African-American community is fed up with some of the activities in Lee County," said Jim Agnew, "especially those in Justice Court."
No one person is in charge of Justice Court, whose judges are elected and whose clerks are hired by the Board of Supervisors. Board members did not respond directly to the allegations but said they would look into them.
Johnson responded by reading a prepared speech, but he didn't directly address the racial allegations. Instead, he said the group's members appeared at the meeting to intimidate him.
The Board of Standards and Training holds hearings for officers whose professional certification has been denied by the state. And it's likely to hear the case of Hall, who is black.
Hall lost his certification when he resigned from the force in 2007 after pleading guilty to misdemeanors resulting from his release of an intoxicated hit-and-run suspect a year earlier. He was rehired more than two months ago.
The city hasn't yet applied for Hall's recertification. But Johnson said Reed has repeatedly requested in person, by phone and in letters that Johnson help Hall get re-certified.
Johnson said he can't do anything outside of the official protocol and to do so would violate his own ethical standards.
Protocol requires the city request Hall's certificate. If the state approves, Johnson's board would not be involved. If it denies the certificate based on information in Hall's file, the city would then appeal that decision to the board and a hearing would be held.
The 12-member board then hears the evidence and votes up or down.
Police Chief Tony Carleton said the city has not applied for recertification because Hall performs an administrative role, focusing on policy, procedure and community relations. Recertification would give Hall the authority to make arrests.
Reed said in a press release that he has "conferred with Sheriff Johnson on his thoughts on this matter" but nothing more.
"On one occasion I called and asked if I could come to his office and visit with him about it," Reed said. "On another occasion we were both speakers at the North Mississippi Homemakers Meeting and I asked him his thoughts on it after the meeting. I have treated our talks as confidential conversations between two people who care about the city and the county, and have responsible leadership positions, and are expected by the citizens to do our best at our jobs."
Johnson also addressed rumors that he personally has prevented Hall from getting his recertification, which he deemed untrue.
"I will not be harassed or intimidated by any group to do anything other than what I believe is right," Johnson told the audience of more than 50 people.
Many of those in attendance said they were disappointed by Johnson's response and accused him of ignoring the real issue: diversity.
"He took this as personal, but he's an elected individual," said Tupelo resident Jim Casey. "This issue isn't going away, and those comments just inspired us to take it to the next level."
When asked about the diversity concern after the meeting, Johnson said he has nothing to hide and noted that the coalition's employment statistics came directly from his website.
"I hire the best qualified people that come before me," Johnson said. "I don't base it on race. That's just not the way I hire."
Contact Emily Le Coz at (662) 678-1588 or emily.lecoz@djournal.com.
Click here for update from Monday on this story - Sheriff says mayor demands Hall help
Hall's rehire was a mistake IMO. Not for racial reasons but for past incidents. I am not that concerned about certification for arrest at that level in this size department.
The person holding office is more important than paper qualifications. Look at recent Scruggs and Judges. All had law degrees. Did not make the Courts just. And they are only the ones that got caught.
Look at other offices. Congress, legislators etc. Many have law degrees, are highly educated and got us where we are now.
Don't get wrapped up in the Tupelo Lee County cat fight. As some joke and say....put them side by side and they look and act alike. One is a Barny Want-a-Be the other a Matlock Want-a-Be. Both are joked about daily.
Vote for the person, not paper qualifications or past experience. We need common sense back in control.
I believe someone else has mentioned it but I see no diversity in black business or organizations to the extent they cry foul elsewhere. This is clearly a diversion from other issues.
Let the City and County fight. Watch the fun, keep notes, use common sense and go to the polls. You are really needed to get this area back on track first, the country next.
However I would like to see the city and county get along better and everyone involved focus on keeping the public safe.
Lets let the Department of Justice come on in and clear all of this up. I'm sure Dynomite Johnson will open his arms and welcome the Feds in to investigate his operations and clear his name. His ethics must surely demand it.
That will show Mayfield and all of his unsubstantiators!
Was it to address the hiring practices of the Sherriff's department, the diversity in the upper echelon of the sheriff's staff, to complain about the hours the Justice Court Judges work, complain about the staff at Justice Court being rude, or just a broad racial complaint about everyone and everything. I've still not heard a specific complaint over a specific issue involving a real situation from the group. I'm starting to believe that to intimidate our local government into doing whatever they want by making unsubstantiated racial complaints seems to be the only issue.
One last comment on your misguided comments. In your attempt to inform the misinformed, you have added to the misinformation. If I have read your comments correctly, you have stated that Justice Court Judges have to go to law school. That is a totally incorrect statement. The only requirement to be a Justice Court Judge is to have a high school diploma or GED, and be a resident of the county of which you seek to be elected for two (2) years prior to the term of office you seek.
Your comments are very misguided and incorrect. Justice Court use to be a court of equity which meant they ruled according to what they perceived was fair. However, today Justice Courts Judges must apply the law to a set of facts irregardless of what they perceive as equitable or fair. Common sense and law are different creatures.
Justice Court Judges play a very important role in our legal system. They often give rulings that go unchallenged and without the defendant having legal representation. This results in the judges having significant and unchecked powers especially if they don't know the law or refuse to apply it.
Be very careful when classifying justice court cases as minor because they can have long lasting effects. They hear all types of cases including larceny, DUI, simple assault, domestic violence, drug, breach of contract, and pre-liminary hearings. Each of the above listed have the same elements that must be proven whether in Justice Court or Circuit Court with the only difference being the amount of money or injury involved.
I wonder how much diversity they have in theirs?
Based on what he was quoted as saying, how do you reckon that Mayfield and his group is against hiring qualified people regardless of their race or social class?
Is it your claim that there are no qualified black people in Lee County?
You know that would be ridiculous don't you.
Sound familiar?
Mayor McCheese - Mayor McCheese was an enormous cheeseburger who appeared from 1971–1985, he has a burger for a head, and sports a top hat, a diplomat's sash, and a pair of pince-nez spectacles. He is portrayed as a giggly, bumbling, somewhat incompetent mayor.
One thing, though..
Tupelo333? For your numbers 1-3....uh...have ya READ any of what is being said in these articles? You have to be working at City Hall attempting to do damage control. Did Reed form a "task force" to initiate mind control over those who do not buy into his facade and appoint you to lead it?
And I'm not "running down Negroes", as you put it. I just think that positions should be filled by qualified people regardless of their race or social class and that those who are not qualified should not be hired just because they are of a certain race or social class.
tupelojoe81: Exactly what I was thinking! If you don't want people with no legal experience as a judge, DON'T VOTE FOR PEOPLE WITH NO LEGAL EXPERIENCE FOR JUDGE!!
Same with medical examiner/coroners. I think that ME/coroners should be appointed with a requirement of at least an MD in order to hold the position.