Stamps Police Department (SPD) is fully staffed. Recruitment was challenging, says Mayor Mitchell-Gweah but getting the department staff was important. She says it is reflective of her commitment to bring stability and a community policing approach to Stamps. It also provides the county sheriff office the relief it sought from the strain it was said to place on the department and addresses the staffing concerns raised in several city council meetings and a recent quorum court meeting.
Learn what the new Interim Chief of Police has to say about the recent hiring and meet the two men of service that recently joined the SPD. The Interim Chief and new officers started their new roles on July 1st .
Interim Chief Patrick Morrison has been in law enforcement for 3 years. He first worked in corrections at Bowie County Jail and Lafayette County Jail. He states his role as a jailer at LCSD gave him the opportunity to transition into law enforcement. He credits LCSD for enrolling him to become a certified officer. His goals for Stamps Police Department is to get his officers trained and get the department operating efficiently and safely so they can better serve and interact with the community. His message to the citizens of Stamps is “Be patient with the department during this process as officers become trained to serve you”. He pledges to be there for every person in the city.
Nick Harvin comes from Liberty Eylau. He wanted to become a police officer after his first good encounter with law enforcement as a child. A Bowie County deputy helped get him on track and showed him that not all officers are bad. He decided to come to Stamps after meeting the Interim Chief and learning how much he cares about his community and wants to be part of something greater than himself. He plans to use his 10 years of experience as a firefighter, doing public relations, and responding to calls to show that no two people are the same and not everyone is bad. “We are all people in this thing called life together. When everyone works together it can be a beautiful thing.”
Billy Harris comes from a family of law enforcement and military. “Choosing a career in law enforcement was driven by my strong desire to serve and protect my community.” Harris’ previous experience in this field allowed him to make a tangible difference in the lives of the people he served and that provided a sense of fulfillment and purpose. His goal at SPD is to interact with the community to build a positive relationship. He wants to also focus on education and outreach through programs on safety and crime prevention.”Respecting the diverse backgrounds of community members and participating in cultural awareness training will be crucial”. Harris,originally from Dallas Texas, was raised in Texarkana, Arkansas.
