WASHINGTON....PG 9
SALUTE OFFICERS
Vol 20, No. 9 • February 2021
News You Can Use
Yarbrough has spent his lifetime making a difference under renowned McNairy By Lucy Weber County Sheriff Buford For 29 years, W. T. Yarbrough Pusser at age 30 after his kept Selmer safe. Army service. “I was the first black man to “I got home (from the walk the streets of Selmer as a Army) and they were all telling full-time police officer,” said me about this sheriff they had,” Yarbrough, who served from 1970 Yarbrough remembered. Soon to 1999 and watched his son after, Yarbrough met Michael Jones rise to the sheriff the become police chief lawman in Bolivar, Tenn. stopped him In reflecting for a traffic on his service, violation Yarbrough said: near “I had a job to Yarbrough’s do and I did it. home but I helped peodidn’t cite ple.” him. “He During his told me to years on go on the job, home,” Yarbrough Yarbrough said he said, adding always folthat he later lowed his said to his father’s father: “I told advice to Daddy, I do unto can’t beat others. ‘em so I’ll Before join joining W. T. Yarbrough ‘em.” the Yarbrough decided to apply at the Selmer force, Yarbrough first entered police department after Pusser told him law enforcement as a part-time deputy there was an opening and encouraged him to go for it. Return Address: P.O. Box 1292 Corinth, MS 38835 “He told me he’d give me a good recommendation.” Yarbrough worked the night shift, “the only shift I POSTAL PATRON wanted” throughout his See YARBROUGH pg 4
662-643-6842
read.newsflash@gmail.com
Hall followed the paths of police and pastor to serve others By Lucy Weber John Hall’s career paths seemed destined as a 4-year-old playing with his friends. “When we played cowboys and Indians, I always chose sheriff,” said Hall. “We used to play church, and I always had to be the preacher. I felt ordained for two things.” Hall retired as a captain in the Corinth Police Department in 2014, after 28 years of service to the community. Ten years into his law enforcement career, he answered the call to ministry. “For me, one played into the other,” Hall said. “Both are there to serve mankind.” In addition to his duties ensuring the safety of Corinth and its residents, Hall served as the police chaplain, supporting officers and the community spiritually and emotionally. He said one of his best days see HALL pge 4
Captain John Hall
Mitchell: A life of service to the community family "by respecting the people of By Lucy Weber the city," he said. "You've got to give For 26 years, Earnest Mitchell respect to get respect." proudly served the people of Mitchell has so many wonderful Corinth as a police officer, memories of serving the people of showing them respect and Corinth in all manners, but his best keeping them safe. memory is "traveling in the car Mitchell rose to the rank behind the buses with the Corinth of lieutenant in the Corinth Warrior Football Team. I love my Police Department. Before kids. Protecting them made my his retirement and during job worth getting up for every his years of service, he day." protected and assisted the Mitchell is a veteran. "When general public and mainI went into the military, I tained the public order. became an officer as well," he "I wanted to make a difsaid. ference in my community," Mitchell's life of service is one Mitchell said. he planned since childhood. "I And he did. have always wanted to be a policeMitchell made Corinth a man since I was growing better and safer place Lieutenant Earnest Mitchell up." to live and raise a