Mayor John Horhn announced Friday that he is nominating former Pittsburgh Bureau of Police commander RaShall Brackney as the next chief of the Jackson Police Department.

The capital city conducted a months-long recruiting process, which included community listening sessions, after Joseph Wade retired as chief in September. Brackney’s nomination must be confirmed by the Jackson City Council.

Horhn, who became mayor in July, selected Brackney from a list of four finalists announced last month. She was the only woman among the finalists, and she would become the third woman to serve as Jackson’s police chief. Her family hails from the Jackson area.

“I’m honored by the opportunity to serve the people of Jackson and to work alongside the dedicated men and women of the Jackson Police Department,” Brackney said in the city’s press release. “I’ve always believed that you can’t have real public safety without strong community trust. I look forward to listening to residents, partnering with neighborhood leaders, and supporting officers as we work to make every part of this city safer. I’m committed to helping build a department that reflects those strengths, treats every person with dignity, and focuses on preventing violence while solving crime.”

If confirmed, Brackney would take helm of Jackson’s police department as officials are celebrating a decline in homicides to pre-pandemic levels.

After retiring from a 30-year career at in the Pittsburg police force, Brackney served as the police chief for Charlottesville, Virginia, and for George Washington University in Washington.

Horhn’s announcement Friday noted that federal partners have relied on Brackney for her knowledge on police bias and reporting of hate crimes. Brackney holds a PhD in instructional management and leadership and taught at George Mason University with a focus on “on police legitimacy, transparency, and reimagining public safety,” the release said.

“Dr. RaShall Brackney has spent her career working at the intersection of public safety and community trust, and she knows effective policing depends on accountability and transparency,” Horhn said in the release.

She’s expected to arrive in Jackson in mid-February to meet with city officials and community leaders.

“My investments in Jackson run deeper than a title or position,” Brackey said in the release. “Jackson has a proud history and a resilient spirit, and my aim is to support the community’s positive growth during my tenure.”

Tyree Jones, the Hinds County sheriff, has been serving as Jackson Police Department’s interim chief since Wade left.

Among the finalists who were not selected was Wendell Watts, who is currently serving as the assistant chief of patrol operations. JPD’s other assistant chief, Vincent Grizzell, recently announced he’s stepping down effective next week, a decision he says was forced due to political reasons, WLBT first reported.