Retirement celebration held for two longtime Hattiesburg policemen | News

HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM)- Two longtime Hattiesburg police officers who are retiring in a few weeks received heartfelt thanks Thursday night from fellow officers and city officials for a job well done. Capt. Tim Jackson and Sgt. Mack Burch were the guests of honor at a retirement celebration at the Hattiesburg Police and Fire Training Academy.

Both have nearly 20 years of service with Hattiesburg Police and both say they will remain in the Hub City area after they leave the department in mid-April.

"It's been a wonderful experience," said Capt. Jackson. "I've met some wonderful people, both in the department and throughout the community," he said.

"I spent the majority of my career here...19 years out of the 25 years I've spent with this department," said Sgt. Burch. "It's become like a family to me," he said.

Hattiesburg Police Chief Frazier Bolton praised the officers for their years of dedicated service. "We never had to go and just guide them and tell them what to do," Bolton said. "They came to work and they got the job done," he said. 

Bolton said he's already chosen the officers who'll replace Jackson and Burch. They'll be named later.

Currently, the Hattiesburg Police Department has 119 sworn officers and 11 cadets training at the academy.

The department is authorized for 140 officers.

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