Special Operations Division

 Traffic/Motor/DUI

The HPD Traffic Division, which is also known as the “Motor Unit” consists of officers who are responsible for the orderly flow of traffic throughout the city limits by monitoring motor vehicle drivers.

With Lt. Michael Fleming and Sgt. Mack Burch leading the squad, these motorcycle officers respond to vehicle accidents, run radar, and perform funeral and dignitary escorts. Also, in addition to one detective, the motor unit has one officer who is certified in traffic homicide investigation, where he is responsible for investigating all traffic fatalities.  

Furthermore, this unit is also responsible for overseeing all special functions which occur within the city such as parades, festivals, charity runs, and other traffic-related activities.

The department currently has one DUI Enforcer, Officer Tammy Hoadley, who usually handles the majority of the calls for service involving drunken drivers and are responsible for strictly enforcing the driving under the influence laws. 

Additionally, the department has a DUI Coordinator, Sherri Moore, who works closely with the DUI Officer in preparing documentations for court cases involving DUIs.  DUI Court is usually held each Thursday in the City of Hattiesburg Municipal Courtroom.    

The Traffic/Motor/DUI Division can be reached by telephone at 601-554-3602. 

  Highway Interdiction Team (H.I.T.)

The tireless efforts of the sworn officers of the Hattiesburg Police Department are aided tremendously by the work of a different breed of officers…the canine kind!

Police service dogs supplement and enhance the capabilities of police personnel. K-9 units are made up of a specially trained police officer and canine that work together on a daily basis, identifying illegal substances and providing a powerful psychological deterrent to potential offenders. These specialized capabilities make K-9 units one of the most effective tools available to the department.

An integral part of the police function, this police-canine combination increases the potential for success of the entire agency.

The Highway Interdiction Team is supervised by Sgt. Harris Tapp and he can be contacted by calling 601-554-3642.

  Crime Suppression Team (STRIKE)  

To help combat the number of residential, commercial and auto burglaries and to suppress high-crime areas throughout the city, in 2008, the Hattiesburg Police Department created a Crime Suppression Team, who is known to many as 'STRIKE’. 

With offenses like noise complaints, disorderly conducts and public drinking, the Crime Suppression Team frequently shifts its focus on violations that lessen a neighborhood’s quality of life. Additionally, they assist other areas within the department, such as patrol, whose response time is often limited by the mere quantity of service calls.

STRIKE is directed by Sgt. Junior Burnett and, as a special operations team, it performs targeted and task-oriented police activities.  Like other specialized units, this squad employs a variety of tactics in their services, including maneuvering through communities on bikes and walking or driving in unmarked units. 

 Neighborhood Enhancement Team (N.E.T.)

Known as ‘N.E.T.,’ the Neighborhood Enhancement Team was created in 1994 as a part of the community-policing initiative adopted by the Hattiesburg Police Department. N.E.T. is based on a philosophy which recognizes the interdependence and shared responsibility of the police and the community in making communities safer and more inhabitable. These officers work flexible schedules, centering their services around the needs of the communities that most necessitate focused law enforcement attention.

Within certain communities, target areas are established in which community policing strategies are expected to have a positive effect. N.E.T. officers work one-on-one with the individuals residing in target communities and develop personal relationships with these residents in order to develop a foundation of trust and understanding.  Likewise, officers employ a variety of tactics in their services, including maneuvering through communities on bikes, and walking or driving in unmarked units.

Moreover, these officers, who are under the direction of Lt. Ken Ross and Sgt. Daniel Miller, regularly attend neighborhood association meetings in order to gain an understanding of residents’ needs and desires for community improvement.

For more information on the Neighborhood Enhancement Team, call 601-545-4515.

Metro Narcotics/12th Judicial District

Narcotics Enforcement Team 

The Hattiesburg Police Department contributes two officers to the 12th Judicial District Narcotics Enforcement Team. This unit operates as a collaborative effort between the cities of Hattiesburg, Petal and Forrest and Perry Counties. Each of these jurisdictions provide officers who work undercover narcotics inside this district. These officers work to ensure that an aggressive and effective effort is made to suppress organized crime and vice activities in the community, predominantly narcotics enforcement.

 Special Tactics and Rescue Team (S.T.A.R.)

Consisting of officers within the police department, the S.T.A.R. Team is trained in special tactics for high-risk situations that may occur at any moment.

They respond to seven main categories of calls:

·      Hostage situations

·      Sniper calls

·      Barricaded subjects: Armed subject(s) barricaded against arrest

·      Barricaded subjects: Armed subject(s) threatening suicide and a threat to others

·      Heavy arrest: Arrest of multiple armed felons in a fortified location

·      Dignitary protection

·      Special circumstances (terrorist threats, etc.)

Training Academy

The Hattiesburg Police Department Training Academy was founded in 1978 under the direction of Chief Keith Oubre.  The Training Academy was held at Lakeview Range and was moved to the Bobby Chain Airport Complex in 1985.  The academy has celebrated over thirty years of training of The City of Hattiesburg’s finest.  Hundreds of elite officers have been trained by the staff of the academy.  The Hattiesburg Training Academy is unique in its founding; it trains only officers that are bound for service of The City of Hattiesburg. 

The Hattiesburg Training Academy is a paramilitary style institution. The academy has been nationally accredited for over ten years.  The Basic Recruit Class is approximately a fifteen week rigorous training cycle.  It includes certification and training in the following area:  Firearms, CPR, criminal investigation, officer survival, ethics, biased based profiling, PPCT defensive tactics, Verbal Judo, gang investigation, narcotics investigation, pursuit driving, criminal law and other pertinent law enforcement issues.  Basic recruits are also required to exceed the minimum state standards in all areas of law enforcement.  The academy staff is also responsible for conducting in-service training for the department’s sworn personnel. 

The Academy staff consists of three employees: Co-Directors of Training, Lieutenant Tony Fontaine and Lieutenant Terrence Bullock and Office Assistant, Mrs. Kay Davis.

Lt. Fontaine has served in the departments Patrol, Special Operations and Metro Divisions.  He is the commander of the Sniper Team and won awards for his performance at state competitions.  Lt. Fontaine holds certifications in nearly all areas of law enforcement instruction including the following: Handgun, Shotgun, Patrol Rifle, Law Enforcement Fitness Specialist, Defensive Tactics, Pursuit Driver Instructor, Officer Survival, Glock Instructor,  Instructor Techniques, PPCT Defensive Tactics Instructor, WMD Incident Command Course (IC), WMD Hands On Course Gun Recovery and Enforcement Training, Firearm Crime Reduction Training (ATF), Ms Justice Information Center Mobile Certification, Background Investigation, Sniper School (MTOA), Long Range Rifle school, Police Recruiting, Basic Field Training Officer, Active shooter Instructor Course (ALERRT) Remington 870 Armor, Remington 1187 Armor, Remington 700 Armor, Glock Armor, Stinger spike system instructor, Strategic Self Defense and Grappling Techniques Instructor level one, two and Equalizer, Dignitary Protection. 

Lieutenant Bullock has served in the departments Patrol, Special Operations and Training divisions.  He has served as a member and commander of the Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET) and commander of the Crime Suppression Team (STRIKE).  Lt. Bullock is a member of the Entry Team and was named Officer of the Year for 2006.  He is a combat veteran and a decorated member of the United States Marine Corps. Lt Bullock possesses a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Southern Mississippi.  He holds certifications in the following disciplines:  Handgun Instructor, Shotgun Instructor, Patrol Rifle Instructor, Instructor Techniques, Background Investigations, ALERRT Active Shooter Instructor, Firearm Crime Reduction Training (ATF) and Officer Survival Instructor.

Recently, Officer Brian Morse was named the Director of K-9 Training.  

Contact us at:

Office:  (601) 545- 4650

Fax:  (601) 545- 4652

Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Location: 

53 Academy Drive

Hattiesburg, MS 39401