PERRY COUNTY, Miss. ( WHLT ) – Three weeks ago, the Beaumont Board of Aldermen voted to fire three out of five police officers. Only the police chief and one part-time officer remain on the staff.

Beaumont Police Chief Jeremy McSwain is working overtime since the board decided to fire half of its officers. He said he’s working up to 17 hours a day, seven days a week.

“It’s been very, very stressful and tiresome. Ever since the board fired my officers, that threw all the load on me. I have to basically run the department by myself. To go on calls, answer calls, and do administration work, do reports,” McSwain said.

While the Perry County Sheriff’s Office is helping out, McSwain said he feels a responsibility to serve his community.

“I just keep pushing through, and I do it for a reason. I don’t want to leave the town just uncovered, because we don’t know when something might happen here in town,” the police chief said.

McSwain urged the board to quickly hire qualified officers.

“We need some officers right now, because like I said, it’s impossible for me to hold it down. I mean, I’m working way over the hours that we’re supposed to work,” he said.

Beaumont Mayor Scotty Daily said the board briefly discussed plans to hire more officers during a meeting on Monday, September 16. Applications for part-time and full-time certified officers are now available.

“We are bringing in and seeking applications, you know, anyone that would like to put in for the position. The position is it is available. So, we are waiting, waiting on people to put their applications in and we go from there,” the mayor said.

Daily said they’ve received at least one application. He hopes to begin discussions about hiring at the next board meeting on October 7. Applications can be picked up at Beaumont City Hall.

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