Tommy Ivy. Sr. sworn in as Okolona City Marshal

OKOLONA, Miss. (WCBI) —  It was a new day for the Okolona Police Department and the closing of a long election.

Tommy ivy sr. Sworn in as Okolona’s City Marshal.

And while it was a controversial road to get to this point, ivy says the past is now the past.

Ivy’s focus is now to help protect and serve the city of Okolona.

Martha Henson said she has known Ivy for over 50 years, and he’s always been a person people look up to.

“The people here respect him and he can handle Okolona which you know in today’s society it is not easy to do,” said Henson. “He takes control of his department and the people in town. You know he’s fair, he’s honest and he just does good things for everybody.”

It was a rocky road to get to this point for Ivy.

But he’s happy people in the Chickasaw County town believe in him.

“Reason people respect me,” said Ivy. “I’m a truthful man and I don’t lie to them. If I tell you I’m a lock you up, I’m a lock you up. If I tell you I will let you go, i will let you go. I’m just a man of my word with everybody, any race color you are I’m just myself and I treat everybody like the way I want to be treated.”

And moving forward, Ivy hopes people in the town will continue to help the police department.

“I’m here to serve, protect and serve,” said Ivy. “I don’t think I’m more than anybody else out here. And the police department ain’t no good without the people. And if you ain’t got the support of the people, you ain’t got nothing.”