MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – The Meridian Police Department officially promoted Dareall Thompson to assistant chief during a pinning ceremony held Thursday morning at police headquarters.
Chief Malachi Sanders, along with Assistant Chief Patrick Gale and Mayor Percy Bland, joined in recognizing Thompson’s promotion from acting captain. The department will now operate with two assistant chiefs.
Sanders said Thompson will serve as director of operations, overseeing patrol, criminal investigations, special operations and the gang unit. Gale, who has been serving as assistant chief, will continue in his role as director of administrative operations, supervising the Real-Time Crime Center, facilities, budget and analytics.
“It goes without saying that Assistant Chief Thompson is battle tested. He can hold the fort down during transitional phases,” Sanders said. “He’s assisted Assistant Chief Gale with a lot of the operational duties of the department. We appreciate the work that he’s done.”
Sanders credited both leaders with helping him transition smoothly into his role as chief.
Thompson, who joined MPD in 2002, reflected on his career during the ceremony, recalling the formation of the department’s first gang unit in 2014 at the request of Mayor Bland.
“I worked through the ranks. It wasn’t given to me. I worked hard,” Thompson said. “By me saying that, I know how to lead. I know how to guide. We’ve got a lot of young officers.”
Thompson also thanked Gale for mentoring him as acting captain and credited his wife and three children for their support throughout his career.
“My wife, she’s been there for me. Many nights, mornings, I’d get that 1 o’clock or 2 o’clock call and had to leave, but she kept the family,” Thompson said. “You have to have a strong family support to be in this field. Without her, I wouldn’t have gotten to this point.”
Thompson closed his remarks with a promise to the community: “I’m not going to let ya’ll down. I’m not going to let the community down. This is my home.”
Pictured Left to Right – Community Development Director Terrell Thompson, Stacey Thompson, Kimberly Thompson, Assistant Chief Dareall Thompson
Pictured Left to Right – Meridian Mayor Percy Bland III, Chief Malachi Sanders, Kimberly Thompson, Assistant Chief Dareall Thompson, Assistant Chief Patrick Gale
Pictured Left to Right – Assistant Chief Dareall Thompson, Chief Malachi Sanders, Assistant Chief Patrick Gale
Pinning Ceremony
