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Police have taken a lot of heat in recent years. The bad acts of individuals have poisoned the opinions of many in the public who attribute bad acts to all, and that’s a shame.

Most law enforcement officers are on the job simply because they are called to serve their community. I know that is the case in Natchez.

Can you imagine the difficulty of being a law enforcement officer today? With the attitudes they deal with daily, along with pay that is so low it’s shameful, it must be a true calling.

Many times in my life, I have been thankful that I lived in a small community. In a small community, it’s easier to get to know individuals, like police officers and sheriff’s deputies, than in a larger community. Those benefits of small-town living extend to other aspects of life and business, like getting to know bankers, pharmacists, physicians, and newspaper reporters. If readers of our newspaper have something to say to me, they can — and do — come right into our office and find me. That’s not necessarily the situation in larger communities.

Recently, I was on John R. Junkin Drive on my way to a county board of supervisors’ meeting with just minutes to spare. Around the bowling alley area, I glanced in my rearview mirror and saw flashing lights behind me.

I was being pulled over by a Natchez police officer.

Now, I’m not someone who gets pulled over. I try not to speed and obey traffic laws, and I’m not about to throw away my hard-earned money on tickets and fines.

I quickly pulled over to the shoulder of the road and parked. Nervously, I waited for the officer to come to my window. I was sure I had been speeding without realizing how fast I was going so I could get to that meeting! I was thinking about how broke I was and wondering what this stop would cost me.

The officer came to the window and immediately said, “Ma’am, the reason I pulled you over is because of an expired tag.”

“Oh, wait!” I said, reaching over to my passenger seat and handing Natchez Police Officer Elijah Marsaw my new license plate and tags.

My plate expired in December 2024, and I did renew it before it expired. However, for three months that plate has sat in my passenger seat, waiting for me to get a butter knife (my tool box consists of a butter knife and a hammer. It’s amazing the things you can do with those two things) and put it on my car. I just hadn’t done it yet.

Yes, I know that’s a violation of the law. I should have put that plate on my car before December was over. I was wrong for not doing so.

What did Officer Marsaw do?

He put my license plate on my car and told me to have a nice day! I didn’t ask him to. He saw it needed to be done and did it.

I wanted to cry. I was overwhelmed with gratitude because this police stop didn’t go how I expected.

This young officer is exactly the kind of man we need serving and protecting in Natchez. His temperament, intellect, leadership, and call to service will go far.

Thank you, Officer Marsaw. You made me grateful once again to live in a place like Natchez.

Jan Griffey is the community editor of The Natchez Democrat.