The Gluckstadt Mayor and Board of Alderman voted to approve the hiring of Assistant Chief, Barry Hale.  Hale meets all the qualifications for the position of Assistant Chief through the Mississippi Board of Standards and Training. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Spanish from the University of Southern Mississippi. He has over 20 years of experience with the Jackson Police Department. He started his career in 2002 as a patrolman at Precinct 4. He achieved the rank of Sergeant and served as Sergeant over numerous Precinct shifts, the Narcotics Division, the Detective Division, and the Dart Unit. He then achieved the rank of Commander which included the Downtown Patrol, Traffic Division, Special Operations, DART (Direct Action Response Team), and served over Precinct 2. 

"We are in the process of hiring 3 more officers for the rank of Sergeant"  said Gluckstadt Police Chief Wendell Watts.  "They have only been extended a contingent job offer by the Board of Alderman conditioned on the passing of a drug screen, background check, psychological profile, and polygraph examination."

Police Chief Watts presented items to the Board that are necessary to run a Police Department.  They voted to purchase vehicles on the state contract at a price set by the State of Mississippi through its Department of Finance and Administration. The vehicles are Dodge Durango’s, and are being sold to us by Mac Haik, under state contract the cost is $30,699 each.

The Department is purchasing uniforms and equipment to outfit each officer. They are also purchasing body cameras for officers which will be purchased over a five-year period. The department is also purchasing a fingerprint and booking machine for the police department to process prisoners.

"I am extremely excited in the direction in which we are headed," said Watts.  "We are on track to getting officers out on the street. The equipment and items that were approved by the Mayor and Board of Alderman for purchase will help aid the officers being hired in getting out to serve and protect the community. We are on track to making this department one of the best in the state of Mississippi and in the nation."