After protecting and serving the citizens of Biloxi for nearly 40 years, Biloxi Police Assistant Chief Rodney McGilvary will have the tables turned on him Friday.
Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich, Police Chief John Miller, countless law enforcement officers as well as numerous city employees and citizens are expected to gather at the Biloxi Civic Center, 578 Howard Ave., between 6 and 9 p.m. on Friday to honor McGilvary on his retirement, marking the end of a career of Biloxi Police Department’s longest-serving police officer.
Rodney McGilvary
McGilvary, 62, has been with the department for almost four decades and has worked his way up the ranks, starting in July 1976 as a patrolman and advancing to sergeant in May 1982, lieutenant in June 1982, inspector in August 1984, major in November 1996, and appointed to assistant chief of police on Nov. 21, 2001, a role he has held for the last 14 and a half- years.
“McGilvary has always been very dedicated and timely,” Miller said. “If you gave him a task, he would complete it. He always reported to work early and left late.”
McGilvary’s passion for law enforcement began as a child and the attraction grew as he entered adulthood. He began in law enforcement with the Biloxi Police Reserves and from that training, he knew policing was what he wanted to do.
“I have always had a strong place for service,” said McGilvary. “I was with the reserves for three years prior to becoming a sworn officer and from there, I knew that was my niche.”
McGilvary is proud of his many years of service and is just as gratified with his more than 25 years of dedication to the Mississippi Special Olympics, were he served as the director of the statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run and as a board members for several years.
“Chief McGilvary has an unwavering commitment to integrity and public service, and a love for All Things Biloxi,” Mayor Gilich said. “The city and all of its residents owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for his lifetime of service and dedication.”
See photos of Rodney McGilvary through the years
