Video: Small Police Department Roles

CALHOUN CITY, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s been a little over a year since Calhoun City got a new police chief protecting the town.

Chief Tito Lopez has been with the department since 2000, and served as assistant chief for around 10 years.

When former Calhoun City Chief Benny Langford retired, he knew Lopez was the man for the job.

The department has five full-time officers, and 2 part-time officers that serve and protect around 5,000 residents.

In a smaller department, you’re everything.

“You’re a patrolman, investigator, drug man, homicide department, so we just do everything, which is good training for a lot of officers. They get a lot more than they would if they were stuck in one area, but at the same time, it’s a challenge. It’s a challenge to keep up,” says Calhoun City Police Chief, Tito Lopez.

Officers keeping up isn’t the only challenge they face. Changes are another, and Lopez has witnessed many throughout his two decades as an officer.

“Law enforcement in any aspect now days is a challenge. It’s a huge challenge. I don’t care if you’re a new patrolman, a sergeant, or a chief of police, times are constantly changing, and we have to change as well, but I think we’re doing well. I’m happy with where we’re at right now.”

Interesting. That’s how Lopez describes his past year in his new role.

“We’ve gotten some grants for vests and for vehicles, hired two new men, so that’s quite a bit actually. You know, in the trying money times that we’re having now days, hopefully we can keep moving forward, and I’m going to keep chugging a way at it.”

Regular police work doesn’t stop for the small department when big crimes roll into town.

“There’s pluses and minuses when it comes to large crimes, and the plus is that everybody knows everybody, and you usually get some clues, which helps. Now, the manpower part is not so easy, so what we do is we all pitch together, which helps.”

Lopez says if he could change anything in the world, it would be for the community to know they’re on their side.

“We do this for them. Yeah we need a paycheck, we need a paycheck. We have families to feed, but we could do a lot of other jobs, and not put our lives on the line. We do it for them.”

The department no longer has an assistant police chief due to budget.

Lopez also serves as a part-time deputy for the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department.