Video: New Police Chief Has Family Ties To Law Enforcement

NETTLETON, MISS. (WCBI) – It was a busy morning for Nettleton’s new police chief.  First, he took the oath of office, with his grandkids and daughter Dana by his side.  Dana was holding a black and white photo of the chief’s Dad, who held the same position years ago.

Then it was time to start on paperwork,  and make the rounds in his patrol car.  Through those first few hours on the job,  Chief Gary Monaghan was thinking a lot about his Dad, Buddy.

“I want most of this publicity to be about him, because he didn’t get this kind of publicity when he was over here.,” Chief Monaghan said.

Nettleton’s new police chief worked for six years at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, but he wanted to step into the shoes his Dad once filled.  His Daughter Dana says she never had any doubt her dad would be the city’s top law enforcement officer.

“He did his dreams and he’s here and I’m very proud of him and I just want him to know that. And I do believe he will do a great job,” said Dana.

That sentiment was echoed by well wishers, including longtime residents of Nettleton.  Durell Hall owned the town’s pharmacy for years and remembers the positive impact Chief Buddy had on the area.

“He was a fair man, he treated everybody, no matter how rich or poor, they got treated equally, and he would help anybody who needed help.  He was a strong man, fair and a Christian,” Hall said.

Chief Monaghan oversees 13 officers.  He wants to put more emphasis on community oriented policing,  and he has a message for those who use and sell illegal drugs.

“I do want to crack down on drugs, we have drugs in this town, that’s one of my main objectives, I do want to slow that down, you can’t stop it but we want to slow it down,” Chief Monaghan said.

Although the town has changed a lot since his dad was chief, Gary Monaghan says he will be guided by the same principles , treating everyone fairly and being led by his Christian values.  He says what worked for his dad all those years ago, still works today.

Monaghan replaces A D Heard, who did not run for another term as Nettleton Police Chief.