By CHRISSY SMITH
Slidell news bureau
PEARL RIVER – J.J. Jennings defeated Matthew McQueen to win the Pearl River Police Chief election on Saturday in the runoff.
Jennings won with 55 percent for 540 votes compared to McQueen who had 45 percent of the votes for 433 ballots.
The runoff was held after the Nov. 4 primary knocked the field of candidates from five down to two.
“I want thank all my family for the very hard work and dedication,” Jennings said. “Thank you all for every single vote. I would not be your chief without everyone’s help. We all did it as a team. I will be the best chief I can be for the Town of Pearl River.”
Jennings has 25 years of law enforcement experience, and said he has the skill to maintain the budget. He said prior to the election that one of his goals was to get more officers on the job in making the town safer.
“I would eventually like to go to eight-hour shifts. That way you will have much happier and fresh officers working, which will be pleasant to our community. I would also like to have an officer assigned as a community police officer that will deal with neighborhood watch, complaints about trash, street lights being out and drugs in our town,” Jennings said.
McQueen is an investigator for an FDA contractor, and he said his education and specialized experience was what made him the best candidates for the job.
Jennings is the town’s first new police chief in 32 years, and he will take over in January when current Pearl River Police Chief Bennie Raynor leaves office.