City of Meridian Report

Three new officers were sworn in at Meridian Police Department this week, two of whom are returning after several years away.

Deundra Willis, Ben Moore and Jordan Saunders have begun serving the Meridian community with MPD. Willis and Moore are lateral transfers who previously worked with the local police force, while Saunders is a first-time recruit.

“I’ve seen good things happening here in Meridian with the police department,” said Willis, who transferred after serving three years with the Hattiesburg Police Department. “I like the direction the department is going and wanted to come back and be a part of that progress.”

Willis previously served 13 years with the Meridian Police Department. He is a detective.

Moore, who worked with MPD from 2017-19, returns as a senior patrol officer with the department’s gang unit. He transferred from the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department.

“I’ve noticed a whole new leadership change and see the department moving in a new direction,” Moore, said. “MPD has given me opportunities other agencies couldn’t.”

Saunders is following in the footsteps of his father Nathaniel Hield as he begins a career in law enforcement after serving in the military.

“When I told my father I was interested (in law enforcement), he told me to consider Meridian,” he said. “I liked what I saw the department was doing. But I did not like some of the negativity I was hearing from the community about the officers. I hope to not only protect and serve the community, but also to shed a more positive light on police as a whole.”