Standing just a couple of feet from each other inside the Meridian Municipal Court Wednesday, outgoing Meridian Police Department Chief Benny DuBose and his replacement, Lee Shelbourn, represented a stark contrast between the past and the future of the department.

Shelbourn, who was Meridian Mayor Cheri Barry’s pick two weeks ago to lead the department, is in the opinion of many law enforcement officers in Lauderdale County a living legend in the state based on his past service as a Mississippi Highway Patrol trooper and instructor and for his track record for leading municipal police departments to a higher level. DuBose was watching the final chapter of his 25-plus years in law enforcement in Meridian close in front of his eyes.

For the two men, the mutual respect each has for the other was evident despite their lives going in completely different directions.

“I’m not sure how I feel,” said DuBose. “It’s hard to describe. I won’t have this uniform on after tomorrow so I don’t know how I’m going to react.”

DuBose said he will take a month or so to contemplate on what his next move will be in terms of retirement or looking for another job.

Shelbourn, on the other hand, has apparently hit the ground running at the department meeting with staff members, the mayor and Mark McDonald, Meridian’s chief administrative officer. He said he is excited after taking the oath of office Wednesday from Municipal Court Judge Beauchamp Jones and is looking forward to this new challenge.

“The meetings I’ve been a part of in the last few days have been positive,” said Shelbourn. “There aren’t going to be any drastic changes here in the department. I want to take some time with my staff to evaluate the department and just go from there.”

Shelbourn said he is committed to taking the department to the next level. He said he recognizes the department is obligated to the citizens of Meridian in giving the populace the best law enforcement service possible.

A few blocks away, new Meridian Fire Department Chief Anthony Clayton was dealing with mountains of paperwork, trying to get a list of qualified candidates together to fill some positions within the firehouse, while at the same time wondering when he will have time to catch up reading several manuals and books pertaining to the department.

“I’m living off of coffee and adrenaline right now,” said Clayton on his first full day as fire chief. “My day has been hectic to put it mildly because I’ve got a lot of things to catch up on. But I believe in a month or so things will start to click and I’ll settle in.”

Clayton, who replaces Jeff Homan as chief, had retired from the department in June with the rank of Battalion Chief. His new position, he admitted, will take a little getting used to because he has gone from being a fireman to an administrator.

“There are a great many more details I have to pay close attention to with this job because we want to make sure the people of Meridian have the best firemen and fire department,” said Clayton.

As for any changes that may be on the horizon Clayton said he does not foresee anything big happening soon. He first wants to go by each station house and sit down with the firemen. Clayton wants to pick their brains and get a feel for what is needed and what is attainable in terms of the resources that would make the MFD as good as it can be.

“I don’t think it is a question of changes but rather more like tweaking things in the department,” Clayton said.