Hattiesburg – On Tuesday, Mayor Toby Barker was joined by Hattiesburg Police Chief Anthony Parker to swear in Hattiesburg’s newest officer, Anthony McBryde.
McBryde, 28, is a lateral transfer from Montgomery Police Department in Alabama, where he worked for seven years.
“Over the last 19 months, our administration has worked deliberately with our council members to build incentives that will aid our police and fire departments in recruitment and retention,” said Barker. “The pay scale alignment and educational opportunities with The University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University have strengthened our position for recruitment. Officer McBryde is an example of just that.”
He also added that the goal for the Hattiesburg Police Department is to be more than just a place to draw a paycheck. “We want it to be somewhere officers can find a purpose and calling.”
With the addition of McBryde, officer manpower numbers are at 103 for the department. An academy class will begin in the summer.
“When we interviewed Officer McBryde, he indicated that he had a strong desire to join in our vision for community-oriented policing and to be a part of what we’re doing in Hattiesburg,” said Parker. “We welcome him to our department, and we look forward to seeing how he excels here.”
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