Friends and family honored Huntley Nevels, who recently retired as deputy Greenwood police chief, with a party at the police station Thursday.
Nevels stepped down effective July 1 after 30 years on the force, including 19 as deputy chief.
Mayor Carolyn McAdams said Nevels did a great job interacting with the public, always being courteous, responsive and polite.
“After 30 years, I have never heard an unkind remark about Chief Nevels,” she said.
Prior to a fried chicken lunch, Police Chief Henry Purnell presented Nevels with a plaque and Nevels’ service weapon.
Purnell said he’d worked with Nevels since Purnell joined the force in 1985, but that he’d known Nevels for much longer. Both grew up on Wildwood Plantation in Morgan City.
The chief was impressed by the turnout Thursday; he said he thought he knew everyone in Greenwood but that Nevels seemed to know even more.
“He’s done a great job for the city of Greenwood. I appreciate all the effort he put into it,” Purnell said.
Nevels’ wife, Barbara, and daughter, Crystal, attended along with other family members, Greenwood police officers and city employees past and present.
Shirlene Anderson, a former Jackson police chief, said she supervised Nevels when he was assigned to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics from 1988 to 1992. Nevels was often sent to other communities to work undercover and did a great job, she said.
“Greenwood P.D. is losing a great guy, a real professional guy,” Anderson said.
Former Greenwood Police Chief Henry Harris said Nevels was one of the department’s most aggressive officers and someone for others to emulate. Nevels led the way in warrants served and tickets written, he said.
“His supervisors recognized that he was truly dedicated to his profession,” Harris said.
Ronnie Stevenson, president of the Greenwood City Council, said he’d known Nevels for all of his 50 years yet couldn’t think of anything bad to say about him.
“Actually, today I wish I could, but I couldn’t think of anything,” Stevenson said, laughing.
Interviews for Nevels’ replacement will be Monday.
“Whoever takes that position’s got some big shoes to fill,” McAdams said.
As for Nevels, he said he’s going to take it easy for at least two months. Fishing and work around the house will be his top priorities.
• Contact Charlie Smith at csmith@gwcommonwealth.com.
