Humphrey named BPD’s Officer of Year

Eli Humphrey

Eli Humphrey

Police officer Eli Humphrey, who saved the life of a fellow officer while working a traffic accident last year, has been named the Biloxi Police Department’s Officer of the Year.

The incident occurred while officers were working a traffic accident in January 2018 on Interstate 110, and it demonstrated the quick thinking and pro-activeness exhibited regularly by Humphrey, a patrolman who joined the department in April 2015.

“Officer Humphrey does a great job for the department,” Police Chief John Miller said. “He is the epitome of community policing, always out in neighborhoods, always meeting and talking with people, always on the look out for criminal activities, and always being proactive.

“On this particular day on the interstate, he was out working an accident and saw another one in the making. Officer Humphrey saw a car slam into the back of a Biloxi patrol car at the scene, and in a split second he reached across the concrete barrier and snatched a fellow officer from the path of the oncoming car. This officer would have certainly been crushed between the car and the concrete barrier were it not for Officer Humphrey’s actions that day.”

The department also recognized Dispatchers of the Year Jennifer Holland and Ramona Wolfe, and Civilian Of the Year, Intelligence Research Spec. Lindsey Akins.

The awards were presented during the Biloxi Police Department’s 2018 Annual Awards Ceremony, which took place Feb. 6 during a Biloxi Bay Area Chamber of Commerce-organized banquet at the Golden Nugget Biloxi Hotel & Casino.

“Wayne Hengen came to one of our awards ceremonies a few years ago, and he came to me later and said he thought there ought to be more to this event,” Miller said. “He took it on as a chamber event, and it’s been great. It’s an important event because it shows the level of respect and appreciation the community has for the department, and it’s important to have that partnership and relationship.”

During the 42-minute program, chamber emcee Marcel Lanoux compared the hiring standards of police departments to the selection process of the original Mercury astronauts as depicted in the movie “The Right Stuff.” Quipped Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich in remarks to the audience, which included officers, families and chamber members: “Let me correct a little about the right stuff. I agree with you 100 percent, but we are Biloxi, so we’re the best stuff here.”

A Medal of Merit was presented to Officer Weston Mayley, who, while off duty, rescued the driver of a motor vehicle that had overturned into a water-filled drainage culvert on Interstate 10.

Miller also cited two individuals with Chief’s Awards during the ceremony: Officer Todd Stewart and Maj. Christopher DeBack.

Among the other presentations: Investigations Division Performance Awards, Inv. Richard Hilliard and Inv. Nicholas Sonnier; Operations Division Performance Award, Officer John Lewis; Administrative Support Division Performance Award, Sgt. William Payne; and Administrative Services Division Performance Award, Mrs. Sheri Hokamp.

A Humanitarian Medal was presented to citizen Corey Griffin, who assisted officers in restraining a person running in traffic.
See the BPD agenda for the banquet
Video: See the 42-minute ceremony
Gallery: See images from the ceremony

 

News & notes: City council meeting, Special Needs Mardi Gras, Senior Olympics

Council meeting: The Biloxi City Council held is last meeting of Feb. 2019 this afternoon at Biloxi City Hall. During the meeting, an update was given on the new location of the Biloxi Mardi Gras Museum and revisions were noted for the Biloxi Main Street Downtown Housing Incentive Program.  To see the complete video of the meeting, click here.

Special Needs Mardi Gras dance: The Biloxi Parks & Recreation Department held its annual Special Needs Mardi Gras Ball and Dance on Friday, Feb. 22. The event was held at the Donal M. Snyder Sr. Community Center with nearly 250 in attendance.  To see some photos from the event, click here.

Senior Olympics registration: The deadline for active adults, age 50 and older, to sign up for the Mississippi Senior Olympics is March 5.  For more information about the games, taking place along the Gulf Coast on March 27-May 25, and to register, click here.