MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Stevens

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING POLICE OFFICERS JAMES GRIFFIN AND RANDALL WEBSTER AND THE TOWN OF WEST ON RECEIVING THE MISSISSIPPI MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION'S MAKING MISSISSIPPI MOVE AWARDS. 

WHEREAS, Police Officers Randall Webster and James Griffin and the Town of West have been named by the Mississippi Municipal Association as the 1997 winners of MMA's Making Mississippi Move Awards in recognition of their innovative public service program to improve the quality of life in the town; and

WHEREAS, after the town board generously approved the monies to establish a police department in the town, Mayor Sara McLellan secured the services of two professional police officers, Randall Webster and James Griffin, to serve in part-time positions; and

WHEREAS, Randall Webster is the assistant chief of police in Lexington, another Holmes County town, and James Griffin, a former Lexington police officer, is a full-time fireman and emergency medical technician in Ridgeland; and

WHEREAS, after less than two months on the beat, these officers made significant strides toward undoing what nearly twenty years of lawlessness had done to the community, including ridding the area of the ever-present riffraff that had tarnished the numerous improvements made by the Town of West Historical and Preservation Society to the business section on Highway 51, the town's most visible area; and

WHEREAS, credited with taming a town that has been characterized as the "wild, wild West," these officers have performed their duties in a firm, professional manner, have demonstrated the unique ability to deal with lawlessness and have restored order and pride to the community; and

WHEREAS, Officers Webster and Griffin, who have effected the livability, economic soundness and permanence of the community, are praised by the townspeople as being perfect mentors for many of West's young offenders:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Police Officers Randall Webster and James Griffin and the Town of West on receiving the 1997 MMA's Making Mississippi Move Awards and express our sincere appreciation for their contributions to the people of the State of Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Randall Webster, James Griffin and the Town of West.