MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2009 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Jackson (11th), Fillingane, Frazier, Gordon, Jackson (32nd), Simmons, Stone, Turner
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXEMPLARY PUBLIC SERVICE OF ANDREW S. THOMPSON, JR., FORMER SHERIFF OF COAHOMA COUNTY.
WHEREAS, Andrew S. Thompson, Jr., served as Sheriff of Coahoma County from January 4, 1988, until January 27, 2009, and his law enforcement presence in Clarksdale and in Coahoma County is a matter of exemplary public record; and
WHEREAS, his professional experience and contributions to the citizens of Coahoma County include the following:
ˇ From May 6, 1974, until May 31, 1983, Thompson served as a correctional officer for the Maximum Security Unit at the State Penitentiary at Parchman. He left this position to be a Deputy Sheriff for Coahoma County;
ˇ From April 1, 1975, until May 31, 1983, Thompson served as Deputy Sheriff for Coahoma County. During his eight years as Deputy Sheriff, his principal responsibilities included criminal investigations, criminal arrests, enforcement of civil and traffic laws and other specially assigned duties deemed necessary and proper by the Sheriff;
ˇ From June 1, 1983, until November 15, 1987, Thompson served as Criminal Investigator for the District Attorney's Office of the Eleventh Circuit Court, where he maintained the local office at Clarksdale and acted as liaison between the District Attorney and the local citizens. He was the first African-American to serve in this capacity in the State of Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Andrew S. Thompson, Jr. was born on August 25, 1947, in Starkville, Mississippi. He grew up in Starkville and attended the Oktibbeha County and Starkville Public Schools. He is married to the former Barbara Elaine Anders, and has two sons and a daughter; and
WHEREAS, Thompson earned a B.S. Degree in Business Administration and Economics from Rust College in 1968. He continued his studies toward an advanced degree in accounting at Mississippi State University during the 1973-1974 school term. He received an additional 12 hours in this area of study from Delta State University at Cleveland, Mississippi. Thompson then completed the Basic Law Enforcement Officer's Training Program in June of 1976 at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer's Training Academy in Pearl, Mississippi. He completed the Criminal Investigator School for District Attorney Criminal Investigators, sponsored by the National District Attorney's Association held at Sam Houston University, in Huntsville, Texas, and in December 1987 completed the Basic Sheriff's Training Course at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer's Training Academy in Pearl, Mississippi. Thompson completed scores of schools and seminars of various law enforcement related courtroom security, homeland security and grant accountability ranging from Washington, D.C., to Florida and across the State of California; and
WHEREAS, prior to his career in law enforcement and following his service as an accountant for Rust College, Andrew entered the United States Navy on June 20, 1969, and served a four-year enlistment. He received clearance to handle classified matters in the line of duty and was honorably discharged on August 1, 1973; and
WHEREAS, Andrew's professional memberships and affiliations include: Courtroom Security and Prisoners' Transportation and Legislative Affairs Committees, Mississippi Sheriff's Association which he served as President for two consecutive terms, Mississippi Prosecutors' Association, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and Deacon of the Armstead Chapel M.B. Church of Friars Point, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Sheriff Thompson's service to the citizens of Clarksdale and Coahoma County has been in the best traditions of professional law enforcement and it is with great pride that we recognize his service to his community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and acknowledge the exemplary public service of former Sheriff Andrew S. Thompson, Jr., on the occasion of the program in his honor presented by his fellow citizens on March 28, 2009.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Andrew Thompson, forwarded to the Board of Supervisors of Coahoma County and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.