Three UPD officers were recognized for their investigative work on the James Meredith statue incident on Wednesday in the courtyard behind the Lyceum.
On Feb. 16, 2014, a noose and a Georgia state flag were placed on the James Meredith statue located on campus. The Daily Mississippian first broke the news that the statue had been desecrated. The three officers honored at the ceremony were Detective Capt. Peggie Jane Tutor, Police Sgt. Shayla Love McGuire and Detective Lt. Jeremy Cook.
Each officer who won the Exemplary Service Award was given a director’s certificate from the FBI along with an “1848 pin” from student affairs to wear on the lapel of their uniform, as well as book ends made of wood harvested from the Grove.
“This was obviously a reprehensible act which shocked, alarmed and outraged our campus and community,” UPD Chief Tim Potts said.
Potts said the investigation was a collaborative effort conducted by UPD, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney General’s office. The three officers are being recognized for playing a vital role in the investigation.
Bryan McCloskey, senior supervisory residential agent for the FBI, said that the incident was nothing less than a hate crime.
“This was a major investigation for us,” McCloskey said. “It seems like maybe to a lot of people that it was something small— it was a prank— but that’s the furthest thing it was.”
McCloskey said the FBI could not have been successful at the prosecution had it not been for UPD, its representatives and the efforts made by former UPD Chief Calvin Sellers before he retired.
“Without their involvement in the case, we would have never been successful,” McCloskey said. “Every step along through the investigation, they were with us side by side.”
McCloskey said the FBI has always had a great relationship with UPD, so they feel there’s nothing on which they cannot work together.
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- Bryan Mccloskey Senior Supervisory Regional Agent Photo by: Ariel Cobbert
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- Police Sgt. Shayla Love McGoire, Dectective Capt. Peggie Jane Tutor and Dectective Lt. Jermey Cook Photo by: Ariel Cobbert
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- University Police Chief Timothy Potts Photo by: Ariel Cobbert
Detective Lt. Jeremy Cook, who was a recipient of the award, said he was greatly appreciative.
“I love the campus for doing this for us, because we were just doing our job at the time,” Cook said. “We didn’t know we were getting the awards. We do our job everyday, so the award is greatly appreciated.”
McCloskey said because of officers like Cook, it is important for managers, supervisors and chiefs in the department to make sure hard workers are recognized when they go above and beyond the call of duty.
“He’s well deserving,” McCloskey said. “As are the other two.”
According to Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Brandi Hephner LeBanc, the national narrative related to police and racial relations is heated and trust has eroded in many communities.
LeBanc said the University is a great example of how police are working daily to ensure safety. When incidents like that concerning Meredith Statue occur, it takes time and hard work to get things right, and the University got things right.
“Here we stand, at the University of Mississippi, recognizing these things,” LeBanc said. “We recognized that justice has been served. An underrepresented community – our black faculty, staff and students have been supported. Civil rights have been validated and the hard working police officers involved are valued from their service. This is community, this is Ole Miss.”
