Natchez — Interim Natchez Police Chief Danny White is still settling into his new office this week but said he already has plans for the department.

White reported to work on Monday as the interim chief of the Natchez Police Department. The Natchez Board of Aldermen appointed White as interim chief on Nov. 8 during an executive session after asking then-chief Mike Mullins to retire effective Monday.

White said he was notified while on vacation that same day that he had been chosen as interim chief.

“I was very pleased they asked me, but I was surprised,” he said. “I had no idea.”

White said he believed his background in law enforcement and his experience running the operations division is why the aldermen chose him to serve as interim chief.

White graduated from Alcorn State University in 1974 with a degree in social studies. He has been with the NPD since he started as a booking officer in the jail in 1983.

White became a patrol officer in 1987 and worked in the patrol division for 11 years. After being promoted to sergeant in 1999, White was put in charge of the criminal investigation division and was later promoted to lieutenant.

White took over the operations division in 2003 and was promoted to captain in 2005. The operations division controls the patrol, criminal investigation, K9 patrol, crime prevention and housing divisions.

White decided after taking over operations he wanted to go back to Alcorn to get his master’s in guidance and counseling in 2006.

White said running the division made him realize he had to be able to work with all different types of people. He said taking psychology classes during his graduate studies has helped him achieve that goal.

“You work with a lot of different people, and they all have different personalities,” White said. “You have to be able to deal with people.”

White said no one will be taking over his previous position, and he will still be overseeing the operations division in addition to performing his administrative duties as chief. Capt. Tom McGehee will be assisting White in managing the operations division.

White said he is thinking about applying for the permanent chief’s position but has not decided for sure. For now, White said his focus is getting the department more involved in the community.

White said his vision for the department is maintaining open communication with the community and its needs.

White said he already has officers getting out of the cars, going into businesses and meeting and talking to people.

“The police (department) is impacted and guided by community,” he said. “I want to make sure this department understands the community’s needs.”

White said he also has patrol officers checking out businesses around closing time to make sure people are not loitering in the streets, which he said will help reduce crime.

Community policing is a top priority for White. He said when patrol officers are not responding to calls, they will be patrolling areas known to have a lot of crime.

White said he plans to be out on nighttime patrol himself making sure the streets are safe.

“I do plan to be out throughout the night,” White said. “You might see me out riding around at 4:30 in the morning.”

White said he also plans to meet with city officials and community groups on ways crime can be reduced in the city.

“I want the police department to be in the fabric of the community,” he said. “I’m going to be out there meeting people and working to make that happen.”