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Board approves police equipment purchases from drug-seizure fund; fire department notes retirement and paramedic pay increase
Summary
The board approved police purchases including firearms purchases and 32 Axon tasers to be paid from the department's drug-seizure fund, authorized travel and new hires; the fire chief reported a retirement and asked for a pay increase for Lt. Brandon Gault after paramedic certification.
The police chief asked the board to approve six items, and the board granted permission by voice vote.
Items included travel for Officer Cody Moulds to attend a dynamic police training in Gulfport (June 22–24), hires for William Parker (communications officer) and Joshua Jones (certified patrolman), renewal of a copier contract, and equipment purchases. The police chief said the purchase of firearms from Southern Connection Police Supplies would total $47,336.59 and that another firearms purchase from Black Rain Ordinance would total $44,033. The chief also sought permission to buy 32 Axon Taser devices on a state contract to be purchased using the department's drug-seizure fund on a five-year payment plan.
"All expenses will be covered by the department's training budget," the chief said about travel; purchases of firearms and tasers were described as to be made from the drug-seizure fund on the record.
The fire chief announced visitation details for longtime chaplain Brother Adcox and presented personnel and equipment requests: the board was asked to accept the retirement of Captain Jerome Hobson effective June 30, 2025; approve a salary increase for Lieutenant Brandon Gault effective June 23, 2025, for passing the paramedic registry; and authorize purchase of nine fire helmets and 10 pairs of structural boots from Delta Fire and Safety on state contract for a total of $8,027.90. The fire chief also requested purchase of a captain's badge and helmet to present to Hobson on retirement, noting Mississippi code provisions cited in the request.
Board members moved, seconded and approved the police and fire items by voice vote; the transcript records that the officer to be sworn in would be sworn after the board meeting.
