CPD Officer Suspended for Facebook Posts
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ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 50 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY THURSDAY | JUNE 22, 2017 CPD officer suspended for Facebook posts ample of such City officials confirm three posts led to suspension; one ties directly to Canyon Boykin posts as any BY ALEX HOLLOWAY for 28 days without pay for vi- Of the posts, two are from whom wished not to be named, that might harm [email protected] olating the city’s social media April of this year — one of confirmed the three posts someone’s repu- policy. How each councilman which is sexually explicit and served as basis for Booth’s sus- tation. Three social media posts voted will not be available until the other uses a racial slur. pension. On April 18, that landed a Columbus Police the city publishes the meeting’s The third, posted on June 27, The city’s social media pol- Booth shared a Department officer a 28-day post that includ- minutes online. 2015, implied Boykin, by name, icy, adopted in 2013, forbids Booth suspension are now associated All three Booth Facebook is gay, and it shared an article city employees from conduct ed a derivation with a former officer’s wrongful posts are included as exhibits from callthecops.net about po- that is “malicious, obscene, of the ‘N’ word. A day later, he termination lawsuit against the in former CPD officer Canyon lice and firefighters across the threatening or intimidating, tagged a female CPD officer in city in federal court. Boykin’s lawsuit against the nation coming out of the closet that disparages co-employees, a post that included an image The city council voted 4-1 in city, filed in U.S. District Court and announcing their engage- suppliers or that might consti- of a sex toy and referenced oral executive session on Tuesday for the Northern District of Mis- ments to same-sex partners. tute harassment or bullying.” sex. to suspend officer Jared Booth sissippi’s Aberdeen Division. Two city officials, both of The policy further lists an ex- See SUSPENSION, 7A Council tables PAINTING PATRIOTISM election commission appointments Mickens raises concerns about ward representation BY ALEX HOLLOWAY [email protected] The Columbus City Council will wait until its next meeting to finish appointing members to the Mu- nicipal Election Com- mission. Councilmen be- Mickens gan reappointing members to the five-person board at Tuesday’s meeting, but stopped when Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens raised concerns that the city’s wards weren’t evenly repre- sented. “We’re going to possibly have three people from one ward — Ward 1,” Mickens said. The council had already ap- Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff pointed three commissioners when Holly Tippett paints American flags on pallets at her home in New Hope on Wednesday. “With the Fourth of July coming up I See COUNCIL, 3A thought it would be fun to promote patriotism in the community,” Tippett said. Tippett has painted 23 flags so far. Building hope Lincoln World Changers mission takes on 14 projects in Lowndes Co. collection BY SLIM SMITH lands at MSU [email protected] One look at Lexi Moon and you know ex- Private gift valued actly what she’s been up to. The boot on her left foot has a large splat- at $3 million ter of white paint and her jeans and T-shirt are smeared with paint, too. Her hands are BY DEVIN EDGAR covered in it. [email protected] “Hey,” she said in mock protest. “I’m a Sitting at his desk, all former good painter. I may not be a neat painter, but I’m a good painter.” Rhode Island Chief Justice Frank Moon is one of 134 volunteers who are Williams can see are the empty in Lowndes County this week as part of a shelves and cases surrounding Christian-based service project called World him. Changers. The young volunteers, who are su- The same shelves used to be Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff lined with materials and items pervised by World Changer and local adults, Lexi Moon of Cochran, Georgia, helps move a freshly-painted ceiling for the are spending the week working on projects at mobile home in Steens on Wednesday. Moon is part of a Christian-based from one of the most extensive 14 homes in the area. The homeowners, who World Changers group helping with 14 mission projects in Lowndes County Abraham Lincoln collections in See WORLD CHANGERS, 8A this summer. See LINCOLN, 7A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 What energetic item was invented MEETINGS Today Today: Columbus by Alessandro Volta at the end of the ■ Sounds of Summer postponed: To- 18th century? Municipal School night’s concert has been postponed until 2 Which French wine producing region District, public July 20 due to inclement weather. Call includes the vineyards of Chateau budget hearing, 662-328-6305 for more information. Lafitte and Chateau Latour? 5:30 p.m., Brandon 3 Which country’s lottery generates Central Services Charlie Chappel most of its revenue from the U.S. although its tickets have to be smug- June 30: Lowndes First grade, Annunciation Friday gled in and sold illegally? ■ Why We Call it Soul Food: Brinda County Board of Su- 4 Alison Moyet was half of which Willis’ presentation “Why We Call it Soul pervisors, 9 a.m., High Low 1980s duo? Food” at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Lowndes County 81 74 5 Which British explorer’s ship ran Rainy Library has been rescheduled for June 30 Courthouse aground on the Great Barrier Reef in July 5: Caledonia Full forecast on 1770? at noon due to inclement weather. Call page 2A. Answers, 8B 662-329-5300 for more information. Board of Aldermen, ■ Dinner and a Movie: The Columbus 6 p.m. Town Hall Arts Council presents a free 7 p.m. show- July 14: Lowndes INSIDE ing of “My Dog Skip”, plus a Southern County School Business 4A Dear Abby 6B supper ($15) beforehand at 6 p.m., at District Board of Classifieds7B Obituaries 5A the Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main Brayleigh Riley is a ninth Trustees, 11 a.m., Comics 6B Opinions 6A St. Make dinner reservations by June 22, grader at Caledonia and is on 1053 Hwy. 45 138TH YEAR, NO. 88 Crossword 8B 662-328-2787. the dance team. South DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com DID YOU HEAR? SAY WHAT? “He sells you on every great thing he has to offer.” Hunter Williams, who was recruited by new Missis- NBC: ‘Downton Abbey’ movie sippi State assistant baseball coach Jake Gautreau to play baseball at Tulane. Story, 1B. production to start in 2018 Thursday ‘We are working on getting the script right and then we’ve got to figure out 4-H GRILLING CONTEST how to get the (cast) together’ BY ANNABELLE LIANG Cast members at the ex- The Associated Press hibition said they were not aware of the movie. “Oh, SINGAPORE — A well, you’ve got confirma- “Downton Abbey” movie is tion before us. We have no in the works, with produc- idea if that’s happening,” tion likely to begin in 2018, said Sophie McShera, who an NBCUniversal execu- played assistant cook Daisy tive said Wednesday. Mason. “But we would all Michael Edelstein, pres- love to be part of the film if ident at NBCUniversal In- it was to happen, for sure.” ternational Studios, said it Laura Carmichael, who hopes to assemble 20 cast played Lady Edith Craw- members from the popular TV series. ley in the series, quipped: “There’s a movie in “Well, tell my agent, be- the works. It’s been in cause we’re still waiting to the works for some time,” know. We’re hoping that Edelstein said in Singapore will happen soon.” at a red-carpet event for Emmy-winning writer “Downton Abbey: The Ex- and creator Julian Fellowes hibition,” which features also said he hoped a film costumes, locations and would be made. “I think never-before-seen footage we’ve got a film in us. I from the TV show. The ex- hope it happens,” he said. hibition opened in the city- “Downton Abbey,” state last week and ends which concluded in 2015, July 31. portrays the lives of the “We are working on aristocratic Crawley family getting the script right and in England and their ser- then we’ve got to figure vants amid the backdrop out how to get the (cast) of such historical events together. Because as you as the sinking of the Titan- Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff know, people go on and ic and World War I. It has Laila Banks, 9, lights the grill for her hamburgers during the 4-H gilling contest at the Hitching Lot Farmers’ Mar- do other things. But we’re become one of the most ket in Columbus on Tuesday. Laila is the daughter of Minnie and Alphonso Banks of Columbus. hopeful to make a movie popular TV shows in the sometime next year,” Edel- world, airing in at least 150 stein said. countries. CONTACTING THE DISPATCH Office hours: Main line: n 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri n 662-328-2424 HOW DO I ... Email a letter to the editor? n [email protected] Report a missing paper? n 662-328-2424 ext. 100 Report a sports score? n Toll-free 877-328-2430 n 662-241-5000 n Operators are on duty until Submit a calendar item? 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 6:30 - n Go to www.cdispatch.com/ 9:30 a.m.