The 2011 conference was a great success! Many thanks to Windy Swetman, James Morgan, Rena Wiggins, and the community of D'Iberville for all of their help and support throughout the conference.
This year the association awarded three (3) scholarships with $1000 going to each of the recepients listed below.
Robbie Maxwell Memorial Scholarship recepient was Andrew Hanna from Union, Ms. Andrew plans to attend Mississippi College and studt secondary education and coaching.
Daniel Rigel from Hattiesburg, MS. Daniel plans to attend Mississippi State University and study software engineering.
Rebecca Lauren Poe from Senatobia, MS. Rebecca plans to attend Mississippi State University and study Pre-Nursing.
This year was the first year that MLEOA partnered with Columbia Southern University for a two year, on-line scholarship. Members were encouraged to submit an application and a committee from Columbia Southern reviewed those applications and chose the winner. This year's recipient was Sergeant Owen Bass from the Forrest General Hospital Police Department. Sgt. Bass has been with Forrest General PD for 13 years and plans to pursue his degree in Criminal Justice.
This year's Officer of the Year Award was presented posthumously to James G. "Jimmy" Brooks of the Madison Police Department. Jimmy was a long time member of the association and held various positions on the Executive Board of MLEOA over the years. Jimmy was a retired chief of the Vicksburg Police Department and had returned to his love of policing in 2000 by joining the Madison Police Department. Jimmy was assigned to the traffic division and proudly patrolled the streets of Madison on his Harley Davidson. Jimmy's life was tragicly ended on March 23, 2011 while on his way to begin his shift. The award was presented to Jimmy's wife Diana at the association's annual banquet. Jimmy's family was present to see her presented with a plaque honoring Jimmy's work and a $500 check as a small token of the association's appreciation for what he did for the law enforcement profession.
