Meet the appointees
Published 12:00 am Saturday, July 11, 2009
Police chief Walter Armstrong
• Age: 48
• Experience/qualifications: Enforcement trooper with the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol since 1984, had been in an administrative role with MHP from 1994 until retirement June 30; master’s degree from Alcorn State; FBI National Academy grad.
• Job: Has overall command and supervision of the operational, administrative, personnel and disciplinary functions of the department.
Fire chief Charles Atkins Jr.
• Age: 53
• Experience/qualifications: Vicksburg firefighter since 1984; training officer/safety officer since 1994; assisted in formation of the Vicksburg Fire Training Facility; University of Southern Mississippi graduate; accreditations from Mississippi State Fire Academy, LSU and Texas A&M fire colleges; certified EMT.
• Job: Responsible for all firefighting, fire prevention and emergency medical services in the city.
City attorney Lee Davis Thames Jr.
• Age: 38
• Experience/qualifications: Graduate of Sewanee: The University of the South and University of Mississippi Law School; member of the Mississippi Bar Association since 1996; Warren County Bar Association President, 2006-07.
• Job: Attends Board of Mayor and Aldermen meetings regularly and advises on legal manners; responsible for all legal research; oversees legal department personnel.
Municipal judge Nancy Thomas
• Age: 45
• Experience/qualifications: City attorney, 1997-2009; graduate of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of Mississippi Law School; private practice attorney, 1989-1997.
• Job: Holds municipal court daily; imposes fines and forfeitures for violations of city ordinances.
Deputy fire chief EMS operations Kenneth Daniels
• Age: 45
• Experience/qualifications: With the department since 1989; certified emergency medical technician; various accreditations.
• Job: Reports directly to fire chief; oversees all emergency medical services and response operations.
Deputy fire chief fire operations Mark Hales
• Age: 45
• Experience/Qualifications: With the department since 1990, former senior house captain at central fire station; associate degree in paramedics from the University of Mississippi; various accreditations and certifications.
• Job: Reports directly to fire chief; oversees all firefighting response operations.