Police chief selected

By Vershal Hogan (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Thursday, June 26, 2008

By Vershal Hogan

The Natchez Democrat

FERRIDAY — Much like his new boss, Kenneth Hedrick won’t exactly be stepping into a new role when he becomes Ferriday Police Chief July 1.

Mayor-elect Glen McGlothin announced Wednesday he had chosen Hedrick to fill the chief position, which is an appointed rather than elected position in Ferriday.

Hedrick currently serves as an enforcement agent for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, but previously served as the chief of police from 1976 until 1981.

Before he was police chief, Hedrick was a Ferriday officer beginning in 1969.

The decision was a hard one to make, McGlothin said, but part of what helped him make the decision was the fact that Hedrick is longtime resident of Ferriday and had already been chief, McGlothin said.

“He has that, and he knows all the other local and stage agencies,” McGlothin said. “He already has all those ties when he hits the ground running.”

The appointment came in part from the recommendation of a committee, composed of attorney Anna Ferguson, who will serve as town attorney when McGlothin takes office, former police chief Bobby Sheppard, businessman Ronnie Freeman and Ferriday resident Otis Hollins.

It was Hedrick’s law enforcement experience that impressed Freeman.

“He has good training,” Freeman said. “He just kind of fit the bill.”

There have been some changes in the town’s department he will have to get used to, but Hedrick said his plan is to surround himself with good help and just try to enforce the law.

That means cracking down on drugs and burglaries, something he plans to do by more interaction with the community, Hedrick said.

“We are going to be more involved with the community, to have more interaction with the people and find out what is going on,” Hedrick said.

Working with Hedrick is something McGlothin said he is looking forward to doing.

“I have known him all my life, and I think we could have a good rapport between us,” McGlothin said. “We feel the same about what we need to do to clean up Ferriday.”