PICAYUNE — Picayune’s Police Department recently completed two trips that focused on thanking outside law enforcement agencies for their assistance following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Chief Jim Luke said the most recent trip took place at the beginning of this hurricane season, June 1, which he saw as ironic since the department he was going to thank departments that lent a hand after Hurricane Katrina .
During that trip they thanked Sheriff John Rutherford, Lt. Michelle Cook and Lt. Don Tuten with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department. Luke presented a proclamation and plaque to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department during a luncheon and thanked them for their time and efforts in assisting the Picayune Police Department after the storm.
During an earlier trip on May 7, the department presented proclamations and plaques to the Madison (Miss.) Police Department and the Brentwood and Franklinton Police Departments and the Willamson County Sheriff’s Department in Tennessee, according to a release from the Picayune Police Department. In Virginia, the Picayune Police Department presented proclamations and plagues to the Alexandria and Prince William County Police Departments and the Virginia State Police. All of those departments also sent personnel to assist Picayune after Hurricane Katrina.
Each proclamation presented to those law enforcement agencies not only thanked them for their assistance but also pledged Picayune Police Department’s assistance should they ever need it during a natural disaster, Luke said.
While in Virginia, Luke and Lt. Chad Dorn and officer James Bolton attended the 14th annual wreath laying and memorial ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C. More than 3,000 officers rode in the event, 500 of which were law enforcement personnel in uniform, Dorn said. Dorn said he was fortunate enough to lead the ride, making it an awesome experience. The candle light vigil that followed was a humbling experience, Dorn said.
At the memorial, Luke found one of Picayune’s fallen officer’s names engraved in stone. The release states that Luke made a pencil copy of the engraving and presented that piece of paper to the fallen officer’s family. That officer was E.L. McGehee, who was killed during a shoot out in Picayune, the release states.
While in D.C. Luke and his officers met with the state’s senators to seek funding to install computers and drug fighting equipment in patrol cars, according to the release.
Efforts are underway to put a local police officer memorial in front of the Criminal Justice Center on Main Street. A 32 year-old tree had to be removed because it was causing damage to the building, the release states. The memorial will be built where the tree once stood.
Three cases have also been constructed by friends of the department, two were built by Gerald Abraham and one was built by Picayune Vo-Tech Woodshop Director Winston Herndon. Those cases are being used to display items that pay homage to former and present officers of the department.
Luke formed a Police Memorial Committee consisting of Deputy Chief David Ervin, Lt. Chad Dorn, Patrol Commander Land Pittman, Community Police Coordinator Ginger Bennett and Executive Assistant Kris Landrum to keep the effort alive, the release states. A recent city council decision authorized the department to maintain a memorial fund indefinitely at no cost to the city to send officers on future memorial trips and to maintain the local police memorial.
The memorial fund received a donation of $1,000 from NorfolkSouthern on Wednesday, which was presented by Supervisory Special Agent Ron Bible.
Local News
Related Photos
-
By Jeremy Pittari
PD pay it forward trips
- Local News
-
-
POLICE MEMORIAL
City employees were out at the Picayune Police Department memorial Thursday morning doing some upgrades to it.
-
ACCIDENT
ACCIDENT — Emergency personnel responded to this accident Thursday morning on South Haugh Avenue.
-
Supervisors support sales tax proposal
The Pearl River County Board of Supervisors unanimously supports District 1 Supervisor Anthony Hales proposal for a 1-percent county sales tax.
Hales had outlined his proposal at two earlier meetings of the board of supervisors and the other four members voiced their support for the idea at Wednesday’s meeting. -
Lawrence sentenced to 57 months for child porn
Picayune native Clifford Lawrence has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for possession of child pornography.
-
WORK UNDERWAY
WORK UNDERWAY — Foundation work on Nicholson Elementary’s multi-purpose building is underway. The building is expected to be complete by spring of next year and will provide the surrounding community with a place to hold events.
-
Washing Water Tower
WASHING WATER TOWER — These workers were spray-cleaning the water tower at Pearl River Community College at Poplarville last week.
-
New, old law makers tout legislative successes
Four state law makers held a legislative review for members of the Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce at the newly opened Southern Char restaurant Tuesday night to share with business owners information about new bills and laws that have been passed.
-
School board approves step raises
Picayune teachers and other staff members should receive step pay increases next year, following some debate on the matter during Tuesday’s meeting of the Picayune Municipal Separate School District.
-
PRC GRADUATION
PRC GRADUATION — At left, Pearl River Central High School Valedictorian Layton Spiers addresses the PRC Senior Class of 2012. At right, PRC Salutatorian Hayden Skantz addresses the graduating class. PRC High School held its graduation exercises Monday night in the school’s football stadium.
-
PMHS GRADUATION SPEAKERS
PMHS GRADUATION SPEAKERS — From left valedictorian Jared Christopher Bates and salutatorian Bryce Austin Warden will lead Picayune Memorial High School’s graduation ceremonies at 7 p.m. Thursday at the football stadium.
- More Local News Headlines
-
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
