By Billy Davis

Mississippi’s Department of Public Safety, in a delayed gesture of appreciation, handed out service awards to state troopers in a private ceremony Wednesday in Batesville.

The troopers, representing three regional headquarters in the state, were recognized for drug seizures, felony arrests, and DUI arrests, among other accolades.

Batesville’s Troop E was recognized along with Troop D from Grenada and Troop F from New Albany.

Mississippi state trooper Jarius Davis, a Troop E transfer from Troop D, received the most honors with 13. 

“I think that’s it,” he said at one point, when he returned for a third trip for more awards. 

Within Troop E, 40 awards went to troopers Dennis Darby, Harris “Bubba” Bryan, Robert Hamblin, Walter Duncan, Leo Hampton, Joey Miller, Tony Davis, Cody Maharrey, Chad McKnight, Joshua Clark, Cory G. Burrow, Dewayne L. Booker, Troy Moses, Collins Bryant, and Charles Hale.

Lifesaving Awards also went to Dennis Darby, Collins Bryant and Charles Hale.

A Meritorious Award went to Chuck Poe, an investigator with the Miss. Bureau of Investigations. 

The Miss. Highway Patrol also received a first place “Best Dressed Award” from the North-American Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors.

Mississippi competed with local, state and federal agencies in the U.S., Mexico and Canada for the recognition. The highway patrol shares the first place award with the Washington State Patrol.

Public Safety Commissioner Stephen Simpson, in a pep talk to the assembly of troopers, said they represent the 70-year history of Mississippi’s Highway Safety Patrol.

“Those 70 years are reflected in the work you do every day and the rewards we’re about to present,” he said.

Troopers’ concern over the worrisome state budget, and how it could affect them, was apparently the elephant in the room. The state of Mississippi is facing a $400 million deficit in the coming fiscal year that  will likely affect the Department of Public Safety and the 11 divisions it oversees.

Simpson described “difficult decisions” being made regarding “budget matters.”

“You really are the best of the best,” he said. “I know you will rise to the occasion to protect the public.”

Simpson added that his office will be “pro-active” in communicating budget decisions that affect the state’s highway patrol.

“We will buckle down and ride it out. We have been through some tough times before,” said MHP Col. Michael Berthay, who is assistant commissioner and followed Simpson.

Berthay also addressed the newest troopers in the room, calling them the “driving force” behind the Miss. Highway Patrol.

The miscellaneous awards represented four years of accomplishments, dating back to 2004, and Berthay said he took “full responsibility” for the belatedness of handing them out.

He said cranking out three graduation classes, and responding to Hurricane Katrina, delayed the recognitions.

After the ceremony, troopers were treated to a hamburger lunch with baked beans and peach cobbler.

Also present Wednesday were Lt. Colonel David Shaw, who heads the Miss. Bureau of Investigation, and Lt. Col. Donnell Berry, deputy director of the Department of Public Safety.