Greenwood Police Chief Ray Moore says his department is nearing full strength.
“I’m a lot closer than what I was,” said Moore.
The Police Department’s authorized strength is 60 sworn officers. It currently has 58 — nine of whom are trainees.
In order for those trainees to become certified officers, they must complete a 12-week course at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy in Pearl.
“I’ve got four starting at the academy in January, and I’ve got five starting in April,” Moore said.
Since being hired, the nine trainees have been paired with veteran officers. That trial period lasts a minimum of six months before Moore sends them to the academy.
New hires need to be able to see if law enforcement is a good fit, Moore said.
“A lot of people don’t realize what law enforcement is like until they get into it. Until you really get in it, you’re on the outside looking in.”
Being a police officer is a challenge, he said: “It’s changing year by year. Law enforcement is a constantly evolving thing,” Moore said, noting that officers must be aware of recent court rulings regarding how laws are enforced as well as changes in state statutes.
Also, he said, “you’re dealing with different people and different situations” — and police deal with “emotions, whether it is fear or anger or frustration.”
To be effective, officers must be capable of understanding the situation to which they respond, Moore said.
“Whether the victim has been hurt or someone has stolen something, we’ve got to be flexible and fluid.”
•Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
