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Editor’s Note: This story has been revised from an earlier version that erroneously stated the Columbus City Council reached out to Natchez Police Chief Joseph Daughtry for the role of Police Chief. Daughtry applied for the position but the City of Columbus did not reach out to him. The following story has been revised.  

NATCHEZ —Natchez Police Chief Joseph Daughtry was interviewed this week for the police chief position in Columbus.

Daughtry confirmed he interviewed with the Columbus City Council on Tuesday.

Daughtry said several other agencies have been reaching out to him over the past six months or so and “encouraged” him to apply for other positions.

He applied for the police chief’s position in Columbus to see what would happen and test his strengths, he said. The Columbus City Council did not approach him for the position but others have, he said.

“People have been recruiting me,” Daughtry said. “I’m humbled for people to see my work and even come after me that way. It makes you appreciate life and the hard work that you do that people notice.”

According to The Dispatch, the 10-person search committee has narrowed down a list of 60 candidates to three finalists after the first round of interviews.  The finalists will be interviewed Thursday, Nov. 8, and Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin told The Dispatch he plans to release the names of the finalists closer to that date.

“Our goal is to release the names and their background information before they get here and then after the interviews, we will have a reception time (at City Hall) where citizens can meet them and ask questions,” he said.

Former Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton retired in August after serving in that role since 2018. Columbus City Council appointed Doran Johnson, the assistant chief, to serve as interim chief, effective Aug. 16. He said at the time he would apply for the permanent post.