Boyle policeman receives honor
Cleveland resident and Boyle police officer, Floyd Pople was recently named “Law Enforcement Officer of 2021” at the Emergency Responders awards luncheon hosted by the Exchange Club at the Cleveland Country Club on March 31. Pope has been a member of the Boyle police force that nominated him for the honor for 15 years. This is the second time Pope has been honored as Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, the first being 30 years ago when he was a patrolman for the Cleveland Police Department.
“I was pleasantly surprised,” said Pope of the recognition. “It’s nice to know that your fellow officers think highly enough of you to do something such as this. I was elated to even be considered again.”
Pope said his favorite part of having been in law enforcement for many years is simply helping people. “If I can help save a life or protect someone’s property or well-being, that’s what it’s all about,” he said. “I worked for the Mississippi Department of Corrections for about 35 years and then went to work in Cleveland with the police department for right at 26 years, retiring as the city’s Assistant Chief of Police.” Pope came out of retirement to work part time as an officer in Boyle.
“I missed the work, man, “ he laughed, when asked why he decided to get back into law enforcement. “While I don’t think we who are in this line of public service get the respect we used to, for various reasons, we’re still needed by our communities. And, when you still have something to give, you want to keep doing the job you love. The vast majority of men and women in this line of work are dedicated, honest, and hard working people whose reason to go to work every single day is to help others.”
Pope, who grew up in Rolling Fork, started work with MDOC after graduating from Mississippi Valley State University. He is married to Joann Pope and has two daughters and three grandchildren. He said he works every day with the Boyle police force, but is able to set his own hours in his part-time capacity.
“And, I’ll stay in it a little while longer,” he said about his work. “It’s a good feeling to catch the bad guys out there, but it’s also fun patrolling the community and helping people out, getting to know them better. Boyle is a nice town, people get along with each other really well, and it’s a good place for me to be right now. During the many years of my career I’ve seen both the good and the bad–it’s nice to have a little bit more of the good these days as I wind down in my professional life,” said Pope. “I think the bad guys know not to come down to Boyle!” he laughed. “We’re here to serve the good people here and keep them safe.”