Selma Mayor James Perkins unleashed on the police department Wednesday, citing multiple incidents that he described as unacceptable and unprofessional.

Perkins held a press conference Wednesday to discuss the suspension of Police Chief Kenta Fulford, who was placed on administrative leave with pay at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Perkins also gave a brief update on the shootings of two high school students, and his overall frustration with the police department.

The mayor gave numerous examples, including the police department’s failure to show up at two Selma schools to provide extra protection after two high school students were shot over the weekend and massive “Freaknik-style” block parties taking place outside the police department.

One of those parties, Perkins said, led to more than 100 shots fired with no action by police.

“You may not believe this, but I don’t want to be here, I don’t want to do this,’’ Perkins said. “But what’s troubling is the number of calls complaining constantly about these types of issues.”

“It cannot be business as usual,’’ Perkins said. “This has to be fixed.”

Efforts to reach Fulford for comment were unsuccessful.

Perkins said an altercation took place one week ago at the high school that continued to escalate off campus and led to a teen being shot in the head Friday night.

“It’s my understanding he is fighting for his life,’’ Perkins said.

The dispute continued into Saturday when another teen was shot about 3 p.m. Those injuries were not life-threatening.

Based on the shootings, Selma City Schools Superintendent Zickeyous Byrd switched to virtual learning on Monday and said that would remain in place until the suspects are apprehended or until police presence at the schools is increased.

Perkins on Wednesday said the schools reopened Tuesday after receiving assurances from Fulford that there would be an increased police presence at the schools.

However, when school started on Tuesday morning, he said, there were no Selma officers there.

“I went to Selma High and there was no Selma police officer present, but the Dallas County sheriff and deputy chief had been called been called because the Selma police officers were considered a no-show,’’ Perkin said.

“The only reason the school system decided to open school was because the chief made the commitment to provide needed coverage.”

Perkins said Selma police – including the chief and deputy chief – only showed up about 9 a.m. and that was after a threat was made toward the school.

The mayor released what he called “receipts” – copies of text messages and emails – that he said documented frustrations specific to the “police chief’s response or lack of response” to numerous appeals for public safety assistance from school officials.

“It shows the broken communication between the school system and the police department,’’ Perkin said.

“It also shows frustration surrounding numerous cries for help by school system leadership and the failure of the Selma Police Department to respond to the concerns of the school system.”

Fulford’s suspension is the second meted out by Perkins in under two years. The Selma City Council, which is the appointing authority for the police chief position, reversed the previous suspension.

“In light of the serious public safety problems and concerns we are facing here in Selma, I hope the council will agree that it really is time for a change,’’ Perkins said.

“My choices are clear- either turn a blind eye to the issues that I have shared with the city council, who controls the appointment, or I share the issues with the public so the citizens can decide who is right or wrong,’’ the mayor said.

Perkins talked about the massive block parties thrown “within feet” of department headquarters.

“People throwing regular Freaknik-style street parties within feet of the police department, with video evidence of numerous violations and no effective law enforcement and no reporting out to the mayor of the incident,’’ he said. “It’s simply not acceptable.”

The mayor said there is also a pattern of “open defiance” to the city’s policy of transporting non-authorized personnel in city vehicles without any disciplinary action.

“The city has been warned by our insurance company that our insurance will not cover liability resulting from this unauthorized behavior,’’ he said, “yet at least one police officer is being accused of continuously transporting his children in the city vehicle with full knowledge of department leadership.”

Perkins said he’s received multiple, serious complaints from the family of slain police Officer Marquis Moorer, who was fatally gunned down while on duty in 2021.

Family members have told the mayor the police department has been unprofessional and nonresponsive in helping them to access survivor benefits.

“My office has received numerous complaints about rude and unprofessional interactions,’’ with police officers, he said.

The mayor also said he hired an outside law firm to investigate the police department’s overtime.

“Several personnel are claiming overtime hours that seem humanly impossible to work,’’ he said. “The report that came back is very disturbing and calls for further review of the matter.”

“All of these situations show a lack of effective leadership, yet the city council refuses to act on these documented problems,’’ he said.

Perkins said he is not seeking Fulford’s firing from the department.

“Termination is not the issue,’’ he said. “He would go back to his ranked position.”

Fulford was a lieutenant before becoming chief.

“I have done my very best to address these issues without bring any public embarrassment to the city but the way this city council micromanages this office makes it impossible for me to quietly handle these issues,’’ he said.

“The police department problems are extremely frustrating to me because the last thing I want to do is go public with public safety challenges because by doing so, it could potentially have a negative impact on our efforts to solicit outside funding and our efforts to recruit and retain businesses,’’ he said.

“But at this point I believe when you know my ‘why,’’’ he said, “it is my hope the public will support my efforts.’’