“After much thought and deliberation I think it may be time to turn a page and see what else life holds.” Those were the words of Louisville Chief of Police, L.M. Claiborne concerning his decision to retire from law enforcement, a profession to which he has given a lifetime.
Claiborne began his law enforcement career with the Mississippi Highway Patrol, after four years of active duty in the U.S. Army. He was only 23 years old at the time, having joined the Army when he was 18, just out of high school.
The Army was an eye-opening experience for a young man who grew up on a working cotton plantation, the Pine Grove Plantation, about three-and-a-half miles east of Tchula, Mississippi. He recalls, as a young boy, the fields still being worked with mules and plows.
In the military he traveled to such places as Fort Polk, Louisiana, Fort Hood, Washington, the Korean DMZ, and to Panama. “It quickly broadened my horizon because that’s a long way from a cotton plantation in Tuchla, Mississippi,” said Claiborne.
But after four years it was time to return to Mississippi and begin a new chapter.
Claiborne said that he had thought of a career with the MHP, but discovered that he was too young. In those days, a candidate for trooper school had to be 23 and he was still a year shy of that. For a time he drove an ambulance, and enrolled in the EMT course at Holmes Community College.
Claiborne said that the night before graduation from trooper school each cadet was given a map showing his duty assignment. His was Winston County, and this has been his home ever since.
It was in Winston County that he began his law enforcement career; he discovered that he had relatives here, Mr. T.P. Crosby. Claiborne and current Louisville Alderman, Eugene Crosby are cousins. And it was in Louisville that he met his future bride, Delmethric Haynes Claiborne.
Claiborne’s life has been one of service, with 39 years in law enforcement, and 27 years in the military, four on active duty and 22-and-a-half in the National Guard.
Between 1980 and 2000 he served in a number of capacities with the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, including: Law Enforcement Officer, Training Officer, Crime Scene Investigator, Traffic Accident Reconstructionist, Director of Training, Assistant Troop Commander, and Director of Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP)/Assistant
Commissioner of Public Safety. Claiborne was the first African-American to serve in this office.
He served as the Director of Training and Exercises for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Homeland security from January 2004-August 2006, and was appointed Louisville Chief of Police in September 2006.
Claiborne and his wife have two children: LaQuintis, who is married to Kimberley Triplett Claiborne; they live in Jonesboro, GA: and Dr. Chrysanthia Claiborne Davis, who is married to Willie Davis; she is a graduate of the University of Mississippi Pharmacy School.
Claiborne and his family are members of Still Valley M.B. Church where he serves as a Deacon and a trustee.
He added that there have been vast changes, both technological and societal, in the past 39 years. The changes in technology have made the job easier, in ways, but the changes in society have made it much more difficult.
Claiborne said that in his years with Louisville Police Dept. they have tried to remain abreast of the changes, including such things as onboard computers in patrol cars and body cams. And the day has come when officers need dash cams and body cams to protect themselves and the public.
He added that these changes have not factored into his decision to retire. After 39 years there just comes a time…
