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The City of Moss Point has released the Moss Point Police Department Comprehensive Operational Assessment and Transition Brief, a full review conducted by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (MDPS) at the request of Mayor Billy Knight and Commissioner Sean Tindell.
Prepared by MDPS Executive Director Joshua Bromen, this independent assessment provides an in-depth look at the Moss Point Police Department’s current operations, challenges, and the necessary steps to strengthen the department’s structure, accountability, and effectiveness moving forward.
For citizens who wish to review the document directly, the complete report is available here:
The City of Moss Point requested this assessment to obtain a clear, evidence-based evaluation of the department’s condition following recent leadership transitions. The report focuses on six primary areas:
Investigative Case Files
Evidence Management
Command Structure and Organizational Efficiency
Fiscal Oversight and Time Accountability
Policy Modernization
Facility, Fleet, and Morale Observations
The goal was not to assign blame but to establish a factual foundation for rebuilding the department with transparency, accountability, and long-term stability.
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s review confirmed that the Moss Point Police Department maintains a foundation of professionalism and capable personnel. However, it also found that modernization and structural reform are urgently needed to ensure sustainability, compliance, and community trust.
The CID currently operates with limited staffing and oversight. The report calls for a complete audit of all active investigations, reconstruction of supervisory roles, and the appointment of a dedicated CID sergeant to ensure quality control and accountability.
Evidence handling was identified as one of the department’s most critical vulnerabilities. The assessment recommends a full audit within 30 days, secure badge-access control to the evidence room, CCTV monitoring, and expansion of storage capacity to meet professional standards.
MPPD’s command model has not been updated since 2013, leaving the Chief of Police responsible for nearly every division. The report recommends a realigned structure that includes a Deputy Chief, an Administrative Lieutenant, four Patrol Sergeants, and a CID Sergeant to improve supervision, communication, and efficiency.
The report highlights imbalances in the department’s budget, noting overages in salary accounts and underfunded categories such as training and communications. It recommends payroll audits, weekly fiscal reviews, and tighter forecasting to promote accountability and responsible spending.
The city’s police vehicles and facility infrastructure have aged beyond functional limits. The report recommends a structured five-year vehicle replacement plan, immediate repairs to the police facility, and an engineering review of ongoing maintenance issues
Most departmental policies have not been updated in more than a decade. The assessment urges a full policy rewrite, with emphasis on use-of-force standards, pursuit protocols, internal investigations, and evidence control, aligning all procedures with current CALEA and DOJ standards.
The report establishes a 90-day stabilization plan followed by a 12-month modernization phase designed to bring MPPD to current professional standards. Among the top priorities:
Full Evidence Audit: Begin within 30 days with oversight from command staff.
Rebuild the CID: Add supervisory structure and audit all open cases.
Modern Command Model: Establish Deputy Chief and Administrative Lieutenant roles to balance supervision.
Fiscal Reform: Conduct payroll and attendance audits and begin weekly budget review meetings.
Policy Review Committee: Form within 60 days to begin rewriting outdated policies.
Mayor–Chief Coordination: Hold bi-weekly meetings to align leadership and ensure transparent communication.
Long-term objectives include fleet renewal, facility upgrades, annual leadership training, and public engagement initiatives like citizen academies and ride-alongs to rebuild community confidence.
City officials have acknowledged the report’s findings and are committed to working collaboratively with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to implement all recommended reforms. The release of this assessment represents a significant milestone in Moss Point’s ongoing commitment to transparency and reform. City leadership recognizes this as an opportunity to rebuild the department’s operational foundation, improve morale, and restore public trust through disciplined planning, leadership, and community partnership.
