The Department of Public Safety has filled three major job positions that were set to be vacant in the coming weeks. One role will oversee the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, and two will oversee the Mississippi Capitol Police. Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell says the three men were chosen based on their unique experiences in law enforcement, and their ability to bring in new ideas for improvement.
“And knowing that I myself have never been to a law enforcement training academy, served in a law enforcement agency, made an arrest or been on a patrol, knew the importance of surrounding myself with the best and brightest law enforcement officers we had to offer,” says Tindell. “And I think we’ve done that with our leadership team, and they have certainly proven to be up to the task as we elevate the performance at the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.”
The three new hires include Lt. Colonel Charles Haynes to oversee the MBI, who has extensive experience in state law enforcement. Joshua Shipp will serve as Assistant Chief of Capitol Police following his experience in the Secret Service. And Bo Luckey, the new Chief of Capitol Police, says he is looking to find ways to improve cooperation between state officers and police in the City of Jackson.
“Upon taking office, my first steps will be to assess the manpower and resources available at this time at Capitol Police,” says Luckey. “In order to ensure that we are functioning as effectively and efficiently as possible, in order to serve you to the best of our abilities.”
This year the legislature also approved funding for more than 35 additional capitol police officers, but officials say it will take time to fill all of those new positions.
