Fired officer wants job back
Sunday, June 20, 2004
By NATALIE CHAMBERS
MOSS POINT -- Former Moss Point Police Sgt. Tommy Nabb will go before the mayor
and Board of Aldermen at 7 p.m. Monday, seeking to get his job back.
Nabb was dismissed by the board on June 7 at the recommendation of Police Chief
Michael Ricks. The slew of reasons given for his firing were associated with a
female inmate alleging she was raped in her jail cell.
No criminal charges have been filed against Nabb.
Nabb, chief steward of the police union which falls under International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 733, will be represented by Chico McGill,
business manager of IBEW and the union's retained attorney, Louis Fondren.
"There are too many inaccuracies in this whole thing," McGill said.
Nabb has personally retained Attorney Calvin Taylor to represent him.
"I believe the city of Moss Point had no basis to discharge him," Taylor said.
"No. 1, he's innocent, and, two, he didn't do anything in violation of duty as a
uniformed officer."
"We are looking at the whole process," McGill said.
McGill said he believes Nabb received inconsistent treatment from the mayor and
board. McGill cited a situation involving a police department supervisor and
said, "there has been no repercussions from that at all." He also said the
supervisor conducted the investigation that led to Nabb's termination.
The city lists one of Nabb's violations as searching a female prisoner without a
witness and outside of the view of video surveillance in the cell.
McGill reiterated that no criminal charges have been filed against Nabb.
"If you're going to put criminal charges on a man, they need to do it and stop
playing around and messing with a guy's life," he said.
McGill said he believes Nabb was fired either for his union activities or for
his outspokenness.
The termination notice for Nabb cited incompetence, inefficiency, inattention to
duty, insubordination and acts tending to injure the public service, including:
Failure to cooperate with an internal investigation by Moss Point Police
Department of allegations of criminal conduct toward a female prisoner in the
Moss Point jail.
Visits by Nabb to the jail cell of a female prisoner in such a way as to place
him and the female prisoner outside the view of video surveillance ... which has
raised questions of improper conduct against Nabb and the police department.
Violation of police procedures regarding the search of a female prisoner by
female police employees.
Search of a female prison by Nabb, without any witness and outside the view of
video surveillance.
Actions and statements by Nabb which have caused Ricks to lose confidence in
him.
"I think the decision has already been made. I think it will become final. We
got to listen. You can't close your ears. It is a hearing. We will have to
listen," Mayor Frank Lynn said of Monday's hearing.
Lynn said the hearing is part of Nabb's due process.
"This is his opportunity to present himself," he said. "I can't say we won't
reverse the decision. I don't know that. It is exactly what it is, a hearing.
It's as though we hadn't done anything."
If Nabb receives an adverse ruling from the mayor and Board of Alderman, he can
appeal the decision to the city's Civil Service Commission.
Reporter Natalie Chambers can be reached at (228) 934-1429 or nchambers@the
mississippipress.com.
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