Police officers from around Mississippi reminded of daily dangers

The murder of Biloxi police officer, Robert McKeithen, is a sober reminder for those officers of the daily dangers they face.

The conference is designed for officers to learn and share ideas, but it has also turned into a time to lean on each other following a tragedy.

“Personally, it just always hits close to home because we really are a big family,” said Rob Banks with the Oxford Police Dept. “We go do the same thing every day, and we know that could be anyone of us that walks out the door that morning. But we always hope it never happens again.”

The hope of it never happening again comes with training.

“That’s what they drill in us that we have to stay alert and stay ready because you never know what’s on the mind of the person that you’re stopping,” said Sgt. Alex Jackson with the West Point Police Dept.

According to Donald Thomas of the Belmont Police Department, interactions with criminal suspects are becoming more of a challenge.

“They used to have respect for law enforcement, but there’s no respect for law enforcement now,” said Thomas. “They would just assume to kill us as to look at us. So, we have to be on guard at all times.”

Staying on guard means taking extra steps to ensure safety.

“I’ve had some people say ‘why did it take three vehicles on this traffic stop’. We’re there to back one another up because we never know what’s going to happen,” said Thomas.

While these officers know worst case scenarios are possible, it doesn’t stop them from continuing their call to protect and to serve.

“I do this job because I love it, and I would say that anyone who has been a cop for more than three years and they’re still a cop, they do it because they love it and because they’re passionate about helping people,” said Banks.

The STORM Conference for officers continues through Thursday in Biloxi.