A suspended Columbus Police Department officer qualified to run for sheriff Thursday.
Lt. John Pevey, a 33-year veteran of the Columbus Police Department, said Thursday he has been considering a run for sheriff for years and the timing of his candidacy has more to do with incumbent Sheriff Butch Howard stepping down than his recent 20-day suspension.
Pevey was suspended by the Columbus City Council Tuesday night when Mayor Robert Smith broke a 3-3 tie to accept the discliplinary recommendation of Chief Joseph St. John. Pevey and Officer Ric Higgins both received suspensions following a New Year”s Eve incident in which Higgins” police cruiser was damaged when it stalled in a deep puddle, allegedly ruining the car”s engine and equipment inside the car. Pevey was accused of improperly reporting the incident.
Speaking by phone Thursday, Pevey acknowledged he and his attorney, Shane McLaughlin of Tupelo, intend to appeal the council”s decision to the Civil Service Commission.
“I do feel the odds are good the appeal will be successful,” said McLaughlin Thursday. “(Pevey) just didn”t do a single thing wrong. He followed city procedures and I think he did everything right that night.”
This will be the first foray into politics for Pevey, 55,. He joined the CPD in 1978 after attending Hinds Junior College where he majored in police science. He spent nine years in patrol before being promoted to detective. As an investigator, he worked auto thefts and narcotics before being named to an unsolved murder unit.
In 2000, Pevey assumed command of the CPD”s narcotics division where he worked to link the department and the Lowndes County Sheriff Department to form the Columbus-Lowndes Metro Narcotics unit. He helmed Metro until returning to patrol in 2009.
“Now that Sheriff Howard has decided not to run, I want to further my career in law enforcement by brining my experience to the county,” said Pevey. “I”ve worked in all branches of law enforcement from patrol, criminal investigations, homicide and narcotics, plus my administrative duties in narcotics.”
Pevey was involved in orchestrating a 2001 gambling sting which netted more than 150 electronic poker machines at stores and nightclubs in Columbus and Lowndes County, and served on the CPD”s SWAT team.
Pevey will face fellow CPD Officer Selvain McQueen and Sherman Vaughn in the Democratic primary. Mike Arledge, Joey Brackin and Bo Harris have qualified as Republicans. Anthony C. Nelson has qualified as an independent.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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