Weatherford is now Diamondhead's top cop - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

Weatherford is now Diamondhead's top cop

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DIAMONDHEAD, MS (WLOX) -

Alan Weatherford's retirement lasted less than a week.  The former Gulfport Police Chief came on Good Morning Mississippi and announced he had accepted a job with the city of Diamondhead.  Weatherford will become the city's first police chief.

"I love challenges," Weatherford said on GMM while talking with Meggan Gray.  He said he was excited "just being a part of that community and to build a foundation for a great police department.

Diamondhead currently has an interlocal agreement with Hancock County to provide law enforcement protection.  Weatherford's job will be to create a new police force from the ground up.  "You're building a department from scratch.  Policies and procedures," Weatherford noted.  "It's a great opportunity to build that foundation."

A swearing in ceremony for Chief Weatherford will be held February 19 at Diamondhead City Hall.

"I had a lot of opportunities for the next chapter in my professional life," Weatherford says in a Diamondhead news release announcing his new job.  "The choice was easy after visiting with city leaders and speaking with some of the citizens from Diamondhead."

Conversations between Weatherford and Diamondhead City Manager Richard Rose started about a month ago.  On February 7, Gulfport held a retirement ceremony for the outgoing chief.  Six days later, he's about to wear a new badge.  "Hiring a person of Chief Weatherford's caliber is an opportunity that doesn't come along to any city very often," said Rose.

Diamondhead Mayor Chuck Ingraham is excited to have Weatherford on board.  "Chief Weatherford is a leader in Community Policing and our citizens will benefit from that," the mayor said.

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