Established in 1903, the Hattiesburg Police Department stands today as an organization of integrity and professionalism, committed to excellence in its efforts to better the lives of the citizens its officers have been sworn to protect and serve.

The mission of the Hattiesburg Police Department is to continually strive to serve the public in the most effective, efficient, and professional manner possible and to work cooperatively with the public to provide for a safe environment for all of our citizens.

Known as an agency of “Pride and Progress,” the Hattiesburg Police Department owns a solid record of achievement, making large strides in areas such as crime reduction, technological advancement and national recognition.

In 1998, the Commission of Accredited Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) awarded the Hattiesburg Police Department national accreditation, making the Department the first law enforcement agency in the State of Mississippi to earn this prestigious status.

The Hattiesburg Police Department is currently led by Chief of Police Frazier Bolton.  The Chief works to guide the Department in its service to a 55 square mile area. In 2005, a new Substation was opened in west Hattiesburg to better serve residents and businesses of this newly annexed region.

The Department consists of the Office of the Chief of Police, Operations, Direct Support, and Administrative Bureaus, and is authorized a staff of 128 sworn and 88 non-sworn personnel. For information on the Office of the Chief of Police, the three bureaus and their divisions, select one of the following links:

Office of the Chief of Police
Operations Bureau
Direct Support Bureau
Administration Bureau

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Office of the Chief of Police

Police Chief Frazier Bolton

Richton native Chief Frazier Bolton has 37 years of experience in law enforcement. He began his career at the Atlanta Police Department in 1970. After retiring from the Atlanta Police Department in 1991, Bolton worked as a resource officer for the Fulton County School District for two years. From there, he returned to Mississippi for four and a half years, as police chief for the Jackson State University Police Department. He also served as Chief of Police for the Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, GA. His most recent position was as Chief of Public Safety at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.

Chief Bolton has received countless awards including officer of the year and has instructed many classes on various aspects of law enforcement. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police.

His educational background spans from Morehouse College to Brenau College, both in Georgia. He has obtained a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a Master’s degree in public administration.

He is married and has three sons. Bolton philosophy is to "treat everyone like you want to be treated".

The Chief of Police is the CEO of the Hattiesburg Police Department and is ultimately responsible for the successful accomplishment of its mission. The components of the Office of the Chief of Police include the:

Assistant Chief of Police
Internal Affairs
Budget/Purchasing
 

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Assistant Chief  Frank Misenhelter

The Assistant Chief of Police is second in command and reports directly to the Chief of Police.

Frank Misenhelter, a 1993 graduate of the Hattiesburg Police Training Academy, was promoted to Assistant Chief of Police in 2003. During his tenure at the Hattiesburg Police Department he has served as the SWAT Team Commander, Operations Bureau Commander, Patrol Commander, NET Team Commander, and the STAR Team Commander.

In addition to his position as Assistant Chief of Police, Misenhelter also serves as a Ropes Course Instructor, a Rappel Instructor, and as a Certified Gang Expert in local courts. He has instructed on the subject of gangs at a variety of institutions, including the University of Southern MS, the MS Police Corps, the Hattiesburg Police Training Academy, and numerous law enforcement agencies across the state. Also, he serves on the Board of the Emergency Management District of the City of Hattiesburg and Forrest County as Secretary/Treasurer.

In 2005, Misenhelter became a member of the first graduating class from the first annual Mississippi Law Enforcement Command College sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi Association of the Chiefs of Police (MACP). In 2009, Chief Misenhelter graduated from the prestigious FBI National Academy 237th Session in Quantico, VA.

To contact the Assistant Chief of Police, you may send an email to fmisenhelter@hattiesburgms.com, or call 601-545-4902.

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The responsibility of the Internal Affairs Unit is to investigate complaints against Hattiesburg Police Department employees relating to misconduct or violation of Civil Service or Department policies, rules or procedures and imprudent performance of duty. Complaints may be derived internally or upon request from citizens.

In order to ensure that all employees operate by the high standards of service required by the Hattiesburg Police Department, and to maintain the confidence of the public, all complaints are thoroughly and impartially investigated.

The Internal Affairs procedures are designed to protect the rights of the public and the rights of the employees of the Hattiesburg Police Department. To that end, the Internal Affairs Unit reports directly to the Chief of Police.

To file a complaint, contact the Internal Affairs Commander at 601-545-4940 or simply stop by the Hattiesburg Police Department located at #1 Government Plaza and request a complaint affidavit. The Civil Service Rules of the City of Hattiesburg mandate that formal complaints be made in writing. (The complaint affidavit must be notarized when returned).

Frequently Asked Questions

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The office of budget and purchasing provides fiscal management for the Hattiesburg Police Department. This division is responsible for the purchase of all departmental equipment and supplies, and oversees the day to day operations of the Accounting Unit.

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