MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2022 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) DeLano, Seymour, Carter, Barnett, Branning, Butler (38th), England, Jackson (11th), McDaniel, McLendon
A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE OF CHIEF WAYNE H. PAYNE, THE FIRST CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE CITY OF D'IBERVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.
WHEREAS, D'Iberville Police Department Chief of Police Wayne Hamilton Payne has announced his retirement as the first Chief of Police for the City of D'Iberville; and
WHEREAS, Chief Payne is responsible for all aspects of the D'Iberville Police Department daily operations. D'Iberville has a resident population of approximately 13,400 and a service population approaching 50,000. D'Iberville is one of the fastest growing cities in the state. The Department has 38 sworn officers and three nonpersonnel, three part-time employees for a total of 44 employees. His primary fiscal responsibility consists of drafting, finalizing and overseeing an annual Department budget of approximately $3.1 million. As the first Chief of Police, he built the organization of the Department from the ground up. Creating a structure developed to better serve a growing metropolitan environment. Chief Payne is first-line supervisor to three deputies and final supervisory authority for all personnel within the Department; and
WHEREAS, Chief Wayne Payne, born in Gulfport, is a native and life-long resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He graduated from Gulfport High School and holds a Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science Degree from Southern Mississippi University. Chief Payne has been married to Paula (Huguet) Payne since 1974, and they are the parents of two sons, Wayne and Joey, both of whom are law enforcement officers, and have three grandchildren Kaitlyn, Kimberly and Haily Payne; and
WHEREAS, prior to becoming the Chief of Police for the City of D'Iberville October of 2007, Chief Payne worked for the City of Gulfport Water and Sewer Department from July of 1973 until he moved to the Gulfport Fire Department in April of 1974. He became a member of the Gulfport Police Department in September of 1976, as a Patrol Officer; and
WHEREAS, Chief Payne was promoted to Detective in 1980, Detective Sergeant in 1984, Detective Lieutenant in 1988, Detective Captain in 1989 and Major Officer-in-Charge of Detectives in 1990. In 1994, after completing 21 years of service with the City of Gulfport, Chief Payne was selected for and accepted the position of Chief of Police of the City of Long Beach, Mississippi. At the end of 1995 after one year as the Long Beach Chief of Police, Chief Payne returned to the Gulfport Police Department as Major of Operations. On February 9, 1998, he was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police, and promoted to Chief of Police for the City of Gulfport January 2000; and
WHEREAS, after completing four years as Chief of Police and a total of 30 years with the City of Gulfport, Chief Payne retired January of 2004, and went to work as Major of Operations for the Harrison County Sheriff's Department. In 2007, he was selected as the first Chief of Police for the City of D'Iberville's Police Department; and
WHEREAS, Chief Payne has just completed his ninth year serving on the Executive Board of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police, serving five years as Southern Vice President of the Association; and
WHEREAS, we can never repay our debt to law enforcement officers and their families. We should not pause and thank law enforcement officers only in the wake of tragedy and retirement, we should thank them every day, and we hereby extend the thanks of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and a grateful state to Chief Payne and his family:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize the outstanding law enforcement service of Chief Wayne H. Payne, the first Chief of Police for the City of D'Iberville, Mississippi, on the occasion on his retirement, and extend to Chief Payne and his family our best wishes for their future.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Chief of Police Wayne H. Payne, forwarded to the City of D'Iberville and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.