Latest news with #LeeCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Dixon's new police chief plans to prioritize community policing, youth engagement
Jun. 1—DIXON — Under the leadership of Dixon's new chief of police, Ryan Bivins, the department will be enhancing its focus on community policing. "What I love is when officers are out of their squad cars in the neighborhoods," Bivins said. "If they see kids playing basketball, get out, play basketball with them, [or] actually stopping in businesses and getting that face-to-face contact with the business owner so they see us, they know who we are. It's an instant relationship-building connection." ExpandAutoplay Image 1 of 4 Sgt. Ryan Bivins will be sworn in as the newest Dixon Chief of Police on Monday, June 2, 2025. (Alex T. Paschal) Bivins said he will continue all of the community policing initiatives the department does now, such as Shop with a Cop and Clothes for Kids, among others, and will "even expand on some of those outreaches." A major priority is youth engagement. "I believe we can have a huge impact on the next generation, you know, with people seeing us beyond just wearing a badge, and investing into the community," Bivins said. When applying for the position of chief, final candidates spent about a month preparing a 10- to 15-page management action plan that details their vision for the department. For Bivins, the title of his plan was "Serving Beyond the Badge," he said. "It's just going beyond a normal thing that we're supposed to do as police officers," Bivins said. [ Bivins chosen as Dixon's newest police chief ] Bivins will officially assume his new role during his swearing-in ceremony Monday, June 2. Bivins' selection was announced Tuesday after the retirement of former Chief Steve Howell on May 9. Bivins' career in law enforcement began in 2008 with the Lee County Sheriff's Office as a corrections officer. After that, he joined the Dixon Police Department in 2009 and has served in many different roles, including patrol officer, detective, patrol sergeant, street crimes sergeant, detective sergeant and hostage negotiator. He leads the department's crisis prevention team and was instrumental in launching the police chaplain program, peer support program and first responder resiliency program, according to a news release sent Tuesday from the city of Dixon. "The favorite part for me has been the relationships that I've been able to build along the way — not just within the department, but with members of the community. We meet people in their highest and lowest moments, and it's a real opportunity to connect with people," Bivins said. Bivins' decision to work in law enforcement wasn't out of the ordinary because he'd grown up around it. His dad, Tim Bivins, was the Lee County sheriff for 20 years and had previously worked at the Dixon Police Department. Originally, Bivins was looking into becoming a youth pastor, but then "I felt called to go this route," he said. "I'm very thankful for that change, because I still think we have a lot of similarities — you get to help kids and be involved." Still, "my faith is very central to my life and kind of the foundation of who I am," Bivins said, adding that he continues to be very involved in his church by serving as a worship leader. Service has been a major motivator for everything in Bivins' work, marking the biggest reason he wanted to take on the role of police chief. "I don't want it for the title. I'm not a title person. I don't want it for the pay raise. I don't want it for, you know, a lot of reasons that people want a promotion sometimes," Bivins said. "I want to just continue to be able to serve the department. That's always been my goal as a leader is to serve those that I work with. I believe that in this role I can continue to do that, but also provide a vision for the department to keep moving forward." Before the interview process began, Bivins said, it was something that he sat down with his family to talk about "to kind of explain it's going to come with some more responsibility," and "they were all super supportive." "They are my rock," Bivins said. "Their love, encouragement and strength make everything I do possible." Bivins and his wife, Jordan, have been married 20 years and have four children — Carson, Brady, Bailey and Marley.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
CRIME REPORTS: Thursday, May 29, 2025
Felonies The following people were booked into the Lee County-Tupelo Adult Jail in connection with felony charges ending Wednesday at 11 a.m. Bobby R. Alexander, 32, of Booneville, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff's Office, felony shoplifting. Joshua Hanley, 35, of Pontotoc, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, sexual battery. Joshua Allen Holcomb, 38, of Saltillo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug, careless driving, driving with a suspended license, no insurance. Lazarius O. Rogers, 24, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff's Office, violation of Intensive Supervised Release (house arrest). Lee County Sheriff's Office The following reports were filed Wednesday by the Lee County Sherif's Office. A Mooreville woman said a gray Kia has been abandoned on Treeside Drive at Highway 178. She said the car was first parked there Friday afternoon, and it was still there Tuesday morning. Deputies had the car towed. A County Road 49, Tupelo, woman returned home around 6 p.m. and found her mailbox had been run over and broken. When she left to go to work around 4 a.m. it was still upright. A neighbor said he saw the mailbox had been toppled when he got back home around 9:30 a.m. The woman had no idea who could be responsible. Anyone with information on any of these reports is urged to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 841-9041, the Tupelo Police Department at 841-6491 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi at (800) 773-TIPS or download the P3 Tip App and leave an anonymous tip that way.
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Miami Herald
Woman stabs 12-year-old at nature preserve, leaves her under brush, FL cops say
A woman attacked a 12-year-old girl with a knife at a Florida nature preserve and tried to conceal her under some brush before fleeing, authorities said. Law enforcement obtained warrants for the arrest of 35-year-old Gwendolyn Girard on charges of aggravated battery and aggravated child abuse in the May 26 incident, the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office said. Girard and the girl knew each other, but deputies could not provide further detail on their relationship due to the ongoing investigation. The afternoon of Memorial Day, passersby at the Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area found a girl with cuts on her face and neck, deputies said in a news release. First responders said when they arrived, they found her 'weak and in need of immediate medical attention.' The 12-year-old told investigators that Girard stabbed her and tried to 'hide her body' in the brush, although she was still alive, then Girard fled in a van, according to deputies. The Lee County Sheriff's Office found Girard and the van in North Fort Myers, and during questioning, Girard told deputies what happened and where the knife was, according to investigators. 'To attack a child with a knife … I can't understand it,' Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummel said. 'It is only by God's grace that she is still with us today, and I pray for her as she heals from this horrific incident. Unfortunately, the mental trauma inflicted on her may never heal.' Girard was booked in Lee County jail. The wildlife management area is in southwest Florida, about a 15-mile drive northwest from Fort Myers.
NDTV
26-05-2025
- NDTV
US Man At Brother's Funeral 'Mistakenly' Arrested For 30-Year-Old Murder
A funeral for a loved one in North Carolina descended into chaos after police arrived in search of a murder suspect in a 30-year-old murder. The cops allegedly used "excessive force" to interrupt the event and accidentally arrest the wrong man, who was mourning his brother Kabem Smith's death. The Lee County Sheriff's Office broke in because they thought he was a wanted man connected to Rodney Cotton's 1995 murder. The Lee County Sheriff's Office later explained on social media what led to the mix-up. The Sheriff's Office said the investigators received "information from multiple separate sources" that a suspect wanted for a 1995 homicide would be present at the funeral of Kabem Seagal Smith, who died earlier this month. "There was a lot of confusion, hostility, and deception," they said in a May 16 Facebook post. Investigators were looking for Willard Smith, who they claimed had successfully evaded law enforcement for 30 years by using "several aliases, including family member's names." According to law authorities, "multiple separate sources" said Willard Eugene Smith would attend Kabem's funeral at Liberty Chapel Church under the name Willard Partridge. According to his obituary, Kabem Smith is survived by his five brothers: Willard Partridge Jr, Jravier Smith, Ridge Smith, Arsenio Smith, and Jordney Smith. The sheriff's office added that "tips also indicated that he has returned to the location on previous occasions to visit family." So, the sheriff's office waited in the parking lot at the funeral to apprehend the suspect, PEOPLE reported. At the end of the service, as mourners departed, deputies misidentified a man as Smith and arrested him. Family members reportedly began to swarm the sheriff's office cars. Eventually, the deputies acknowledged their mistake and released him. The original suspect, Smith, is still at large. In its online statement, the Lee County Sheriff's Office, which has not yet been able to identify the real suspect, pledged that its investigators were still confident of solving the 1995 Murder of Rodney Cotton.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
CRIME REPORTS: Friday, May 23, 2025
Felonies The following people were booked into the Lee County-Tupelo Adult Jail in connection with felony charges ending Thursday at 11 a.m. Cameron Burnett, 33, of Lyon, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff's Office, aggravated assault. Bradley Burngart, 40, of Calhoun City, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug. Darius Andrew Pannell, 34, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff's Office, aggravated trafficking of methamphetamine. William Patrick Pannell, 38, of Guntown, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff's Office, violation of probation. Christopher Tate, 16, of Guntown, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff's Office, burglary of a dwelling, attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Lee County Sheriff's Office The following reports were filed Thursday by the Lee County Sheriff's Office. A County Road 521, Saltillo, man said he found two puppies on his property and wanted to know if the sheriff's office would pick them up. The deputy explained that they could only pick up animals with a court order or if they were vicious. The man said he would try to find the puppies a home. A County Road 1279, Tupelo, woman said an unknown group of four-wheelers and dirt bikes ride up and down her road at all hours of the day and night revving their engines. She thinks she might know where they are coming from, but she isn't certain. She said she has witnessed an older female holding a toddler with no helmet on. She said on some occasions, the four-wheelers have veered into her lane when driving. Anyone with information on any of these reports is urged to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 841-9041, the Tupelo Police Department at 841-6491 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi at (800) 773-TIPS or download the P3 Tip App and leave an anonymous tip that way.
