PageO Greenwood Commonwealth / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 cfopq=obpmlkabop =======================================================================================================================================================================
‘The dangers are real’
PageP Greenwood Commonwealth / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 cfopq=obpmlkabop =======================================================================================================================================================================
A Ride With the Police Chief
Officers can’t run from hazards, Moore says
dêÉÉåïççÇ=mçäáÅÉ=`ÜáÉÑ=o~ó=jççêÉ=ÅÜÉÅâë=íÜÉ=áÇÉåíáÑáÅ~íáçå=çÑ=~=ëéÉÉÇáåÖ=ÇêáîÉê=~ÑíÉê=éìääáåÖ=Üáã=çîÉê=~äçåÖ=tÉëí=m~êâ=^îÉåìÉK=få=íÜáë=Å~ëÉI=íÜÉ=ÅÜáÉÑ=ÇÉÅáÇÉÇ=íç=áëëìÉ=~=ï~êåJ áåÖ=áåëíÉ~Ç=çÑ=~=íáÅâÉíK
B
efore Greenwood Police Chief Ray Moore leaves for work, usually around 5 a.m., he wakes his wife up and tells her he loves her. She responds in kind. Moore, 62, has been married for more than 30 years and has been a police officer since 1985, starting in West Point, a town of 11,000 in East Mississippi. His friend was already an officer there, and Moore decided he’d “give it a try.” Moore, who grew up in the Greenwood area, came back in 1996 to begin his career with the Greenwood Police Department. On a Saturday morning in October, Moore did the usual, telling his wife he loved her before heading to Greenwood for work. I met Moore about a dozen hours later to ride along with him on patrol from 6 p.m. to midnight. “It’s not TV, something you need to keep in mind,” Moore warned me beforehand. “This is real. The dangers are real.” When Moore asked me what I would do if I heard gunshots, I said that I would run away. “We don’t have that luxury,” Moore said, emphasing that he and his officers run toward danger. “That’s what the taxpayers pay us to do.” As chief — a position Moore has held since January 2014 — he often finds himself behind his desk, stacked deep with paperwork, rather than patrolling the streets. He sighs about the “99 percent” of his time spent signing papers — invoices, payrolls, approving the department’s purchases and officers’ leaves. He maintains a slim figure and sports black leather cowboy boots, which he admits aren’t fit for foot chases. His main weakness appears to be a heavy addiction to cigarettes, a habit that he shrugs his shoulders about but that may have contributed to a stroke he would suffer less than a week after the ride-along. Moore tries to go out on street patrols at least one a week. The point, he said, is to understand what his officers are dealing with day to day.
After getting fitted in a bullet-proof vest, a requirement for not just ride-along participants but all officers to wear, my shift with Moore began. We rode in one of the department’s newer vehicles, a white Dodge Charger. Moore said that he misses the older model, the Ford Crown Victoria. Not 10 minutes into the patrol, he flashed the cruiser’s blue lights after spotting a car parked against traffic on McLaurin Street. His flashlight in tow, he approached the driver and told her to properly park the car. Near Carrollton Avenue, we passed by a man washing his car. His pants were sagging halfway down his backside, revealing much of his boxers. At the sight, Moore brought up ordinances enacted in other cities that ban sagging pants — laws that he is glad Greenwood does not have. “I don’t want my officers to be the fashion police,” he said. Also, he thinks such laws might step on an individual’s right to expression. “It is a fine line on infringing on someone’s First Amendment right,” he said. Moore said that he and his officers took an oath to uphold the laws but not to abuse their power. “Our job just ain’t to harass people. Our job is to protect and serve people.” Moore would like to dispel some of the public’s perception about police, including that they racially profile offenders. He said the nation’s drug problem crosses all boundaries and is not limited to race or economic class. He doesn’t believe in micro-policing. As long as people are behaving, there’s no need to interfere, Moore said. “You rest assured, my officers don’t have time to pick on anyone.” Regarding body cameras, a device which many people see as a way to hold the police accountable, he sees it as a double-edged sword. All Greenwood police officers are required to wear a camera while on duty, but Moore said that the cameras can often break down. During
more heated times, officers may forget to turn their cameras on. Even then, if a camera is on and recording, Moore said it only shows one point of view. He’s grown distrustful toward the news media, saying it “leaves a real bad taste in my mouth.” He thinks reporters are too quick to tell their stories before all facts have been verified. He also thinks they tend to put a spin on their stories. “Hell, just tell us what happened,” Moore said. He brought up several cases where he believed the news media went forward with stories of accusations and allegations without fully checking them out: the police shootings of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the allegations of sexual assault leveled against Brett Kavanaugh toward the end of his confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. “Where do they go to get their reputation back?” Moore asked. Moore doesn’t believe in censorship of the media. He said that if he withholds information on a crime, it’s simply because the evidence isn’t verified. In the case of police shootings, Moore said that confrontations wouldn’t escalate to that point if people properly complied with the instructions of law enforcement officers. For officers, it’s particularly important to see people’s hands to be sure they aren’t armed, he said. “When I tell somebody I wanna see their hands, I wanna see their hands.” He believes his department is in good shape, other than being undermanned. “The only thing we’re lacking is qualified manpower. If we could get our workforce built up, we’d be in great shape.” There are currently 52 sworn police officers, with a few officers currently in the hiring process. Moore said the department could use about nine more officers but he’s had difficulty finding them. The problem, as Moore told the City Council a few weeks ago, is that the pool of qualified candidates just isn’t there. “It’s hard to find someone that can pass
pqlov=^ka=melql=_v=dbo^oa=baf`
all the criteria we require and want to be a police officer,” Moore said. He’s unwilling to lower standards. And even if he can find qualified individuals, he said, “this job’s not for everyone.” The patrol proceeded through all parts of Greenwood, north and south. It was unusually uneventful, according to Moore, especially since Mississippi Valley State University had celebrated homecoming earlier in the day. I was about to make a comment about the situation when Moore interrupted me, telling me not to say the “q-word” for fear of jinxing the relative calm. Later that night, back at headquarters, the two dispatchers confirmed it’s an unwritten rule not to pronounce a shift as being “quiet.” Moore did not issue a ticket to any of the few drivers he pulled over for speeding on this night. He said sometimes it’s better to judge people based on sincerity. “You just get a good feeling,” he said, when asked how he can tell the difference between someone who is being honest and someone who is trying to lie his way out of a ticket. He said he could tell one driver couldn’t afford the ticket. He decided another driver, a young woman whom he knew, could best be handled with a call to her father. Another woman, who told Moore she was running late and was worried about her mother, was also let off with a warning. The police chief said he is not sure how to improve the connectedness between the public and the police, since most people don’t interact regularly with officers. He’s not even sure if it can be achieved. However, he’s adamant that good policing can help, and he’s confident his department has made strides in that regard. Nearing midnight, Moore dropped me off back at the police station. The evening was still a bit young for some as they gathered at Greenwood’s nightspots. Moore’s night was done, though. He would be arriving back home, and with the unstrapping of the velcro from his bullet-proof vest, his wife would know it. n
PageQ Greenwood Commonwealth / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 cfopq=obpmlkabop =======================================================================================================================================================================
Helping in times of loss
PageR cfopq=obpmlkabop =======================================================================================================================================================================
Coroners
Greenwood Commonwealth / Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Job involves investigation, work with families M
any people may think that a coroner is someone who only pronounces deaths. Although that is part of the elected official’s job, there’s so much more to being a coroner. “It’s giving service to families that have experienced loss,” said Debra Sanders, Leflore County’s coroner since 1995. Even though death is inevitable, it often can be shocking when it occurs, especially in small communities. Finding out the details of a deceased loved one’s passing can help families find closure during the grieving process, which is why the job of the coroner is so important. “I have families who call not understanding what happened, and I like to try to at least give them a logical explanation,” said Sanders. “I also have fami-
lies call way after the accident and after the funeral services have taken place, and they want to know some things. It helps them cope. It helps to give them closure to know. They just say it bothers them to not understand what happened.” Coroners also have the title of chief medical examiner investigator. They work through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s Forensic Laboratory in Pearl. “Even though the coroners are elected officials, we work hand in hand with the Medical Examiner’s Office, and we’re kind of like their eyes and ears in the field,” said Carroll County Coroner Mark Stiles, now in the third year of his first term in the office. For Sanders, the investigative part of being a coroner was the reason she
JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ “I used to read a lot of mystery books when I was in the sixth or seventh grade. The who, what, when, where and how was always interesting to me. ’’ Debra Sanders
JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
decided to run for the office. “I’ve always been interested in mysteries,” she said. “I used to read a lot of mystery books when I was in the sixth or seventh grade. The who, what, when, where and how was
always interesting to me.” Sanders was working at a nursing home when she got a firsthand look at the county coroner performing an investigation. “He talked to me and got the information, and I went and observed what he was doing,” she said. “I said one day I was going to run for coroner.” Both Sanders and Stiles have backgrounds in the medical field. Stiles has an associate’s degree in nursing from Northwest Community College. He worked as an emergency room registered nurse. Now he owns Shady Glenn Retirement Village in Winona. Sanders has been a nurse for more than 30 years. She has an associate’s degree in nursing from Mississippi Delta -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------pÉÉ `lolkbop, m~ÖÉ=NN
aÉÄê~=p~åÇÉêë=Ü~ë=ÄÉÉå=íÜÉ=iÉÑäçêÉ=`çìåíó=ÅçêçåÉê=ëáåÅÉ NVVRK
Hurst got involved with volunter firefighting at 15 J pqlov=^ka=melql=_v=orqefb=ol_fplk
ake Hurst felt the calling at an early age.
He was a 15-year-old freshman at Carroll Academy when he decided he wanted to help others, so he got involved with the Carrollton/North Carrollton Volunteer Fire Department. “I had just gotten my driver’s license. When I saw that fire truck pull out, I was right behind it in my truck,” he said. “At that age, I didn’t get to do that much. I would drag hoses or whatever I could to help.” He is doing a lot more these days. Hurst is the assistant chief of the department where he got his start. The 33-year-old has 17 years’ experience as a volunteer firefighter, having served with the Valley Hill and Black Hawk departments as well as others. When asked what it is he enjoys the most about his service, Hurst said, “It’s hard to explain. You are either born wanting to help others or you are not. I have always had an interest in giving of my time to help others.” Hurst moved back to Carrollton with his family two years ago, but he didn’t return to firefighting until the first of 2018. That’s when the Carrollton/North Carrollton department was totally rebuilt. He was more than happy to get back into it. “The department was starting over from scratch, and I knew we had to have folks to keep it going,” he said. “It’s pretty rewarding helping folks when they are going through something as awful as a house fire, helping them when they think no one cares.” Hurst, a right-of-way agent for Byers Engineering, said he is fortunate to be able to volunteer around a busy work schedule. But the one thing outsiders don’t realize is the effect not only on the firefighters but also on their families.
g~âÉ=eìêëí=çÑ=`~êêçääíçå=Ü~ë=NT=óÉ~êëÛ=ÉñéÉêáÉåÅÉ=~ë=~=îçäìåíÉÉê=ÑáêÉÑáÖÜíÉêK=qÜÉ=PPJóÉ~êJ çäÇ=ÄÉÖ~å=ÜÉäéáåÖ=çìí=íÜÉ=`~êêçääíçåLkçêíÜ=`~êêçääíçå=ÇÉé~êíãÉåí=~í=íÜÉ=~ÖÉ=çÑ=NRK=eÉ áë=åçï=íÜÉ=~ëëáëí~åí=ÅÜáÉÑK==
Erratic schedules, missed family events and concern for their loved ones’ safety all become part of everyday life for family members. “If I get a call during dinner, my wife
(Jennie) has to bathe the kids and do all that while I rush out. Then they are worried about me until I get home,” he said. Besides being ready to serve at a moment’s notice, not when it’s scheduled
pqlov=^ka=melql=_v=_fii=_roorp
and convenient, volunteer firefighters spend extra hours training for safety and expertise, which again takes time away from the family. “My wife does worry sometimes, but she is understanding,” said Hurst, a 2004 graduate of Carroll Academy. “She knows I am doing what I love to do.” Hurst’s department, he said, has 15 active volunteer firemen on its roster with “nine dedicated members.” He says it’s a tight-knit group. “You have to be close to them because you have to trust them. After all, you are putting your life in their hands,” he said. When asked about any close calls or scary moments, Hurst said, “There are close calls when you’re running into a burning house and everyone else is running out.” He said he has never suffered any major injuries, although he once had a fiery stud fall through a wall onto his arm, but there was no significant burn damage. “If you do this long enough, everybody has a close call.” Hurst said his department has responded to about 50 calls this year, with the majority being mundane things such as the odor of natural gas, carbon monoxide alarms and automatic fire alarms. House fire calls usually pick up as winter hits and more people are using indoor heaters, he said. When Hurst isn’t working his paying job or responding to fire department calls, he enjoys hunting and spending time with his wife and two sons. He has started his 8-year-old, Landon, hunting but admits it’s an uphill battle with the short attention span of a young child. “Family time is important,” he said, “and I can tell you that doing this makes you really appreciate your family and the blessings we have.” n
PageS Greenwood Commonwealth / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 cfopq=obpmlkabop =======================================================================================================================================================================
Chief Ray Moore
Deputy Chief Marvin Hammond Sr.
Reserve Officer Quontatvis Allen
Lt. Antoine Anderson
Lt. Jeri Bankston
Chief’s Secretary Whitney Barry
Court Clerk Felicia Bedell
Dispatcher Yvette Bishop
Officer William Blake
Sgt. Joshua Boyd
Capt. William Burleson
Deputy Records Clerk Farrah Chandler
Officer Darnell Christman
Sgt. Melvin Cook
Office Clerk Mavis Cosper
Lt. Terrence Craft
Dispatcher Claudette Curry
Officer Greg Fernandez
Reserve Officer Jerry Foster
Sgt. Rolando Galvan
Sgt. Edgar Gibson
Lt. Byron Granderson
Deputy Court Clerk Rochelle Gunn
Lt. Amos Hayes
Sgt. Kevin Hayes
Reserve Officer Shelby Hayes
Dispatcher Shareneice Hibbler
Deputy Court Clerk Mabel Hopkins
Officer Robert Jackson Jr.
Capt. Michael Johnson
Officer Robert Johnson
Officer James Kelly
Sgt. David Layton
Capt. Talisha Leach
Reserve Lt. Curtis Lee
Dispatcher Mary Lyons
Reserve Sgt. Lonnie Magee
Officer Michael March
Drug Court Coordinator Ouida Martin
Officer Bryan May
Officer Keiandria McClee
Dispatcher Jonicia Moore
PageT Greenwood Commonwealth / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 cfopq=obpmlkabop =======================================================================================================================================================================
Officer Mark Mulconrey
Sgt. Steve Noble
Lt. Webster Nuel
Capt. Byron O’Bryant
Lt. Lenard Paige
Sgt. Perry Rice
Officer Heather Roberts
Officer Angie Rushing
Officer Stefon Sibley
Sgt. Serafin Simon
Dispatcher Irene Stancil
Officer Joshua Stewart
Records Clerk Sheletha Stokes
Reserve Capt. T.J. Tackett
Officer Clarence Tolbert Jr.
Sgt. Zach Underwood
Dispatcher Colby Watson
klq=mf`qroba oÉëÉêîÉ=lÑÑáÅÉê=bìÖÉåÉ=`~ååçå lÑÑáÅÉê=`çÇó=`Ü~ãÄäÉÉ oÉëÉêîÉ=lÑÑáÅÉê=dïÉåÇçäóå=dáäãçêÉ lÑÑáÅÉê=^åíÜçåó=gçåÉë
Leflore County Coroner Debra Sanders
Leflore County Deputy Coroner Will Gnemi
Carroll County Coroner Mark Stiles
Leflore County/ Carroll County Deputy Coroner Bill Lord
Leflore County Deputy Coroner Jacquelyn Brownlow
Janitorial Tech Newanda Webb
Dispatcher Teveeta Whitehead
Officer Christian Williams
Officer Jerry Williams
lÑÑáÅÉê=jÉÖ~å=jÅháååçå aáëé~íÅÜÉê=`~ëë~åÇê~=lìëäÉó oÉëÉêîÉ=lÑÑáÅÉê=_Éå=t~áÄÉä
Leflore County Director Fred Randle
A C C
J
O S W
Leflore County Deputy Director Dorothy C. Ivory
Carroll County Director Gayle Beard
PageU Greenwood Commonwealth / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 cfopq=obpmlkabop =======================================================================================================================================================================
Chief Marcus Banks
Assistant Chief John Lewis
Firefighter Marquivious Bankhead
Firefighter Julian Beamon
Capt. Lavar Bolden
Firefighter Xavaier Brister
Firefighter Eddie Brookins
Battalion Chief Tony Brown
Capt. Shun Byrd
Battalion Chief Willie Coker
Capt. Charles Cooley
Firefighter Cleother Crain
Lt. Jarvis Davis
Firefighter Curtis Elliott
Capt. Maurice Ellis
Firefighter Hunter Flanagan
Capt. Christopher Glass
Firefighter Cary Hayes
Capt. Scott Hemphill
Firefighter Kalcy Hill
Sgt. Travell James
Capt. Jamoni Jennings
Sgt. Christopher Jones
Sgt. Desmond Jones
Capt. Sean Jones
Sgt. Johnny Langdon Jr.
Firefighter Howard Lowe
Division Chief of Training Martrellis McDowell
Firefighter Willie McKinney
Firefighter Eric Moore
Firefighter Ronnie Payne
Firefighter Marquez Perry
Firefighter Marcus Ramsey
Capt. Jamie Simon
Firefighter Derry Skinner
klq=mf`qroba pÖíK=o~óãçåÇ=_~åâë cáêÉÑáÖÜíÉê=g~ãÉêáò=eÉãéÜáää pÖíK=jáÅÜ~Éä=eóåÉë iíK=^äÑêÉÇ=háåÖ pÖíK=`ÉÇêáÅ=j~êíáå `~éíK=aÉíêáÅâ=jìåÑçêÇ cáêÉÑáÖÜíÉê=`Üêáëíá~å=táääá~ãë Firefighter Temerious Spivey
Battalion Chief Willie Thompson
Capt. Marvin Turner
Firefighter Wardell Turner Jr.
Capt. Jason Wallace
PageV Greenwood Commonwealth / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 cfopq=obpmlkabop =======================================================================================================================================================================
Sheriff Ricky Banks
Undersheriff Ken Spencer
Lekeita Donley
Bessie Flowers
Randy Powell
Rodney Spencer
klq=mf`qroba `~éíK=oçÄÉêí=nìáåå iÉå=tççÇÉå
Sgt. Michael Baldwin
Jennifer Brown
Wendy Brown
Robert Haggie
Investigator Jim Hammer
Sgt. Danny Henry
Michael Hoskins
Coy Lee Keys
Colby Trotter
Cody Vanlandingham
Ted Washington
Perell Westbrook
Investigator Bill Staten
_çÄÄó=kçêïççÇ gÉêêó=pãáíÜ a~îáÇ=pÜ~ï
gÉêÉãó=pãáíÜ j~ê~åÇ~=o~åÇäÉ `ÜêáëíáåÉ=pÅçíí
Deputy Eddie Cates
Willie David
g~óäÉå=pãáíÜ
jçêÖ~å=`áíóW=cêçã=äÉÑíI=_ìêí=oçÄÉêëçåI=hÉîáå=jìÉääÉêI=`ìêí=gçääóI=tÜáíåÉó=jìÉääÉêI=hÉååó jìÉääÉêI=hÉååÉíÜ=jìÉääÉê=~åÇ=hÉåÇ~ää=jìÉääÉêX=åçí=éáÅíìêÉÇI=hÉîáå=eáäíçåI=a~ååó=j~êíáåI jáåíÉê=`áíóW=cêçã=äÉÑíI=aÉÉ=píÉÉÇI=^Çêá~å=mÉ~ÅçÅâI=`çäÄó=qêçííÉêI=gçÜå=pãáíÜ=~åÇ=_ìÇÇó oçÄÉêí=j~êíáåI=gçëÜ=`ä~êâI=táääáÉ=`K=páãë=~åÇ=pí~êëâó=j~êíáåK aÉ~íçåX=åçí=éáÅíìêÉÇI=nìÉåíáå=píìÄÄëK
jçåÉóW=cêçã=äÉÑíI=qêÉó=hÉääóI=gçÇó=^Åçëí~I=o~åÇó=eìåíI=hÉáíÜ=eçäãÉëI=`Üêáë=hÉääóI=`Üêáë==t~äâÉêI=`Üêáë=aÉåäÉóI=`Üêáë=`çäÉã~åI `çÇó=_É~ãI=`çÇó=eçêåI=^ìëíáå=aÉåäÉóI=w~ÅÜ=råÇÉêïççÇI=táääá~ã=qìÅâÉêI=oçÄ=dê~åíÜ~ã=~åÇ=sáêÖáä=pÅ~ääáçåX=åçí=éáÅíìêÉÇI t~óåÉ=mçÉI=u~îáÉê=eìÇëçåI=_~åâë=qìÅâÉêI=gáã=eçääóI=hÉáíÜ=d~åíI=qÉêêó=oçÄÉêíë=~åÇ=k~íÜ~å=_çëÜÉêëK
klq=mf`qroba fíí~= _Éå~W= `ÜáÉÑ= sçåòÉää= pÉäÑI= ^ëëáëí~åí= `ÜáÉÑ bìÖÉåÉ= a~îáëI= a~îÉ= hÉääóI= gKeK= jìëÉI= g~ëçå açóäÉI= oÉÖÖáÉ= cêÉÉã~åI= `äáåíçå= mçïÉääI= ^åÇêÉï e~êêáëI= j~êèìáîáçìë= _~åâÜÉ~ÇI= d~îáå= vçìåÖI qÉêê~åÅÉ= jáääÉêI= açå~äÇ= cìäÖÜ~ãI= bäÇêáÅâ= `ä~óI oçÄÉêí= mÉêêóã~åI= t~äíÉê= m~êâÉêI= lÅí~òáÉå cêÉÉã~åI=_áêÉ~âÉêë=^ÇÇáëçåI=u~î~áÉê=_êáëíÉê=~åÇ qáã=péáîÉó pÅÜä~íÉêW=j~ííÜÉï=_êçïåI=jáÅÜ~Éä=t~äâÉêI=g~ëçå `çäèìÉííI= oçååáÉ= `çìåíëI= e~åâ= p~åÇÉêëI= qóäÉê `~ååçåI=mÜáääáé=oÜçÇÉë=~åÇ=içóÇ=eçÇÖÉë mÜáääáéëíçåW _áääó=rëëÉêóI=eçï~êÇ=eçääáã~åI=`~ëÉó ^äÇÉêã~å=~åÇ=g~ÅâáÉ=páãë páÇçåW=gÉêêó=pãáíÜ=~åÇ=táääáÉ=kÉ~ä
PageNM Greenwood Commonwealth / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 cfopq=obpmlkabop =======================================================================================================================================================================
Sheriff Clint Walker
Chief Deputy Adam Eubanks
Warden Brandon Smith
Deputy Robert Anderson
Deputy Mark Beck
Deputy Roshaun Daniels
Deputy Claude Foreman
Deputy Art Hicks
Deputy Trinity Hoover
Deputy Adam Jennings
Deputy Thomas Johnson
Deputy Johnny Marlow
Deputy Jeremy McDaniels
Deputy Bobby Mullen
Deputy Shelia Peeples
Chaplain Keith Rammage
Deputy Richard Redditt
Deputy Zach Redditt
Deputy Jamie Taylor
Deputy Banks Tucker
Deputy Therrell Turner
Deputy David Ward
`~êêçääíçåLkçêíÜ=`~êêçääíçåW=cêçã=äÉÑíI=iíK=hÉîáå=^î~åíI=cáêÉã~å=a~îáÇ=a~äÉI=^ëëáëí~åí=`ÜáÉÑ=g~âÉ=eìêëíI=pÖíK=oçÄÉêí=páãëI=`~éíK=qáã=táääá~ãëI `~éí~áåLp~ÑÉíó=lÑÑáÅÉê=`ççéÉê=jáäÉóI=cáêÉã~å=`Üêáë=píÉéÜ~åëçåI=pÖíK=gÉÑÑ=cê~åâäáåI=`Ü~éä~áå=bÇÇáÉ=`~êéÉåíÉêI=cáêÉã~å=^åÇêÉï=^ääÉå=~åÇ=pÖíK==eìåíÉê a~îáëK=kçí=éáÅíìêÉÇW=cáêÉ=`ÜáÉÑ=^åÇó=sáåáåÖI=cáêÉã~å=^äÉñ=dáääÉëéáÉI=cáêÉã~å=qê~Åó=oçÄÉêíëçåI=cáêÉã~å=a~îáÇ=oçëëI=iíK=`Üêáë=tÉíòÄ~êÖÉêI=cáêÉã~å ^ìëíáå=jççêÉ=~åÇ=cáêÉã~å=hÉáíÜ=o~ã~ÖÉK
PageNN Greenwood Commonwealth / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 cfopq=obpmlkabop =======================================================================================================================================================================
oìíÜáÉ=oçÄáëçå
j~êâ=píáäÉë=áë=ëÉêîáåÖ=áå=íÜÉ=íÜáêÇ=óÉ~ê=çÑ=Üáë=Ñáêëí=íÉêã=~ë `~êêçää=`çìåíó=ÅçêçåÉêK `~äî~êóJeáÅâçêó=dêçîÉW=cêçã=äÉÑíI=cáêÉã~å=_ÉäáåÇ~=dçëëI=^ëëáëí~åí=`ÜáÉÑ=bÇï~êÇ=dçëëI=cáêÉã~å=o~åÇó=`êÉëíã~åI=cáêÉ `ÜáÉÑ=`Üêáë=`~ëáÇ~óI=aÉéìíó=^ëëáëí~åí=`ÜáÉÑ=qáã=`~ëáÇ~ó=~åÇ=pÖíK=gÉÑÑ=cê~åâäáåK=kçí=éáÅíìêÉÇW=cáêÉÑáÖÜíÉêë=`Üáé=~åÇ _~áäÉó=a~îáëI=^êí=_ä~âÉ=~åÇ=táääá~ã=eÉåëçåK
dê~îÉä=eáää=~åÇ=_ä~Åâ=e~ïâW=cêçã=äÉÑíI=sáêÖáä=pÅ~ääáçåI=`KgK=oçÄÉêíëçåI=gÉêçãó=gçìÇçåI=a~åáÉä=`çìåíëI=q~ëÜ~=~åÇ=jáâÉ `çêåáëÜI=aìëíáå=cäÉãáåÖ=~åÇ=cáêÉ=`ÜáÉÑ=g~ó=j~ñÉóK=kçí=éáÅíìêÉÇW=cáêÉÑáÖÜíÉêë=`ÜìÅâ=jáãëI=gçëÜ=pãáíÜ=~åÇ=qÉêêó=_~áäÉóK
jçìåí=máëÖ~ÜW=cêçã=äÉÑíI=d~êó=jìåÅÜÉêI=bíÜ~å=e~ÇÇçåI=aÉ~å=_ä~âÉäÉóI=jáÅÜÉääÉ=jìåÅÜÉêI=_ìÄÄ~=q~ååÉêI=i~êêó=`~êîÉêI o~åÇ~ää=`ä~êâI=`çÇó=mìÖÜI=gçëÜ=píÉï~êí=~åÇ=jáâÉ=e~ÇÇçåK=kçí=éáÅíìêÉÇW=pÅçíí=_ÉÅâI=_êççâ=jÅ`êçêóI=gçÜå=e~ÇÇçåI ióåå=e~áäÉó=gçÜå=_ÉÅâI=hÉååó=gçåÉëI=oìëíó=`~êéÉåíÉêI=tÉåÇÉää=dçëë=~åÇ=`KgK=jçåíÖçãÉêóK
_É~í=Q=sçäìåíÉÉê=cáêÉ=`ÜáÉÑ=a~îáÇ=oçëë klq=mf`qrobaW s~ääÉó= eáääW= cáêÉ= `ÜáÉÑ= dÉçêÖÉ= dáääÉëéáÉI cáêÉã~å=^äÉñ=dáääÉëéáÉ=~åÇ=m~ìä=e~äÉó= cáêÉ= `ÜáÉÑL`~êêçää= `çìåíó= cáêÉ= `ççêÇáå~íçê= ^åÇó= sáåáåÖI äÉÑíI=~åÇ=s~áÇÉå=cáêÉ=`ÜáÉÑ=gçÜååó=_ìêêÉää=~ëëÉëë=Ç~ã~ÖÉë Ñêçã=~=ÜçìëÉK
`çêçåÉêë
`çåíáåìÉÇ=Ñêçã=m~ÖÉ=R ---------------------------------------------------------Community College and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mississippi College. “It’s not one of the qualifications to be a coroner, but being in the health care profession has helped me tremendously,” said Sanders. On call 24/7, coroners investigate sudden deaths, such as homicides, suicides, accidents and wrecks. “We work with the law enforcement officials,” said Stiles. “Even though they have jurisdiction over the crime scene, you have the jurisdiction and responsibility of the body. You don’t what to go to a crime scene and trample over all of the evidence, but yet you still have to do your responsibilities as the coroner, pronouncing the individual (dead) and getting them ready for an autopsy or the funeral home.” For homicides, the information a coroner collects on the scene is crucial. “You go to the crime scene, you take pictures, you document everything that you see and then that documentation goes with the case if it goes to trial,” said Stiles. Coroners also request that autopsies be performed at the state Crime Lab when a cause of death cannot be determined. Most deaths, however, are from natural causes, and coroners will gather medical records and talk to nurses and doctors to determine cause for the death certificate. As of October, Leflore County has had 239 coroner calls and Carroll County has had 55. Since there is a hospital in Leflore County, Sanders is called to some of the deaths that occur there. Doctors can pronounce death at the hospital, but the coroner must investigate when a death occurs in the emergency room or within 24 hours of admission, if a person arrives at the hospital unresponsive or if there is a sudden death after any type of procedure or surgery. “I will be the one who certifies the death and puts the manner and cause on the death certificate,” said Sanders. After a person has been pronounced dead, the coro-
JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ “I try to do the best job I can and in the most respectful and dignified way. The families are very appreciative of the job that the coroners do, because they understand it’s not an easy job. ’’ Mark Stiles
JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
ner must notify the next of kin. Along with her investigation responsibilities, Sanders also makes a point to “help families get through what has happened.” “When there are families that are emotional, I try to allow them to vent before I attempt to talk with them,” she said. For Stiles, some calls have hit close to home. “In your small rural areas, it seems like you know everybody,” he said. “You might have to go to a call where one of your family friend’s parents has passed away. You might go to a wreck, and it’s one my fears that’s one of the kids that I know, and it’s happened before. ... I know these families.” Stiles said he views his job as coroner as a service for the county’s residents. “I try to do the best job I can and in the most respectful and dignified way,” he said. “The families are very appreciative of the job that the coroners do, because they understand it’s not an easy job.” Although the job of the coroner is a tough one, it can also be rewarding. “It gives me joy to help someone get through the bereavement process and being able to answer the questions they may have,” said Sanders. Stiles said it’s gratifying when family members are appreciative of his care of their deceased loved ones. “You can be in the grocery store and someone comes up and hugs your neck and says, ‘I appreciate all you did for me the other day,’” he said. Stiles said, “It goes back to you’re here to do a service for your friends and the residents of your community.” n
PageNO Greenwood Commonwealth / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 cfopq=obpmlkabop =======================================================================================================================================================================
We salute our first responders.
Thank you for your service. Emergencies of various types occur every day in our area, from accidents and fires to crimes and medical incidents. These critical situations require men and women with the training and knowledge to rescue those in peril, treat the injured, and restore safety and order. Greenwood Leflore Hospital proudly recognizes all first responders for their skill, dedication and uncommon bravery.
You are our community heroes!
A Lifetime of Care...visit us at GLH.org