HATTIESBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS & REPORTS

CHIEF HARDY SIMS

Chief Hardy Sims, a native of Hattiesburg, MS.  He began his law enforcement career in 1992 as a police officer with the Hattiesburg Police Department.  He has served as a Patrolman, Neighborhood Enhancement Team Leader, Criminal Investigator, DARE Instructor, GREAT Instructor, Ropes Course Instructor, Public Information Officer, Community Relations Officer, Hostage Negotiator, and STAR Team Commander.

Chief Sims has a long and distinguished supervisory career, serving as a Sergeant in Patrol, Lieutenant in Community Relations, Captain in Patrol, Major of Operations, Assistant Chief, and Currently the Chief of Police.

Chief Sims is a graduate of the University of Southern MS. where he graduated summa cum laude.  Also, he graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy and has attended numerous other law enforcement schools and seminars.

Additionally, Chief Sims has served on several civic and community boards including the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Association Board of Directors and Pace Head Start Executive Board of Directors. He currently serves on the Emergency Management District Board and the MS Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission Board.  He also received the Distinguished Sales and Marketing Award from SMEI’s Hattiesburg affiliate.

Chief Sims is a member of West Point Baptist Church, where he serves as a Deacon.  He has been married to his wife Marcia Sims for 16 years.

To contact the Chief of Police, you may send an email hsims@hattiesburgms.com or call 601-545-4900.

ASSISTANT CHIEF TONY FONTAINE

Assistant Chief Tony Fontaine began his law enforcement career with the Hattiesburg Police Department in February 2001, starting as a patrol officer in the Patrol Division. Two years later, in 2003, Fontaine was assigned to the Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET) within the Special Operations Division, where he specialized in street gang activity and street-level narcotics. He was also assigned to the Metro Task Force, focusing on vice crimes and narcotics.

Fontaine earned the rank of Lieutenant in 2009 and was assigned as the Director of Training at the academy. In 2013, he was promoted to Captain of the Special Operations Division, where he supervised the traffic division, NET, Strike and all task force agents.

Fontaine has earned over a dozen instructor certifications, from weaponry to defensive driving, strategic self-defense and active shooter training. In 2014, he attended Command College at the University of Mississippi, providing him the knowledge and understanding of general management and leadership principles, including conflict resolution, fiscal responsibilities and the political, legal and social environment of law enforcement skills.

After graduating from Command College, Fontaine returned to the Hattiesburg Police and Fire Training Academy as the Director of Training. In 2021, Fontaine was promoted to Major of Operations and assigned to the Operations Bureau.

To contact the Assistant Chief of Police, you may send an email tfontaine@hattiesburgms.com or call 601-545-4902.