Commending Clay Jones Upon His Retirement

Floor Speech

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Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished service of Clay Jones who will retire this year after over 29 years as a first responder and public servant in South Mississippi.

Jones hails from D'Iberville, MS, where he lives with his wife, the former Tonia Bryant of Biloxi, and their children, Clayton II, and Connor. Jones received his Bachelor's Degree in Administration of Justice from the University of Southern Mississippi and graduated from the University of Louisville's Southern Police Institute 129th Administrative Officers Course, the Law Enforcement Command College at the University of Mississippi, Leadership Gulf Coast, and Gulf Coast Business Council-Masters Leadership Class.

Jones began his public service career in 1993 with the Biloxi Police Department as a reserve police officer and progressed to a full-time officer in 1995. During his tenure at Biloxi Police Department, Jones worked as a part-time instructor at the Harrison County Law Enforcement Training Academy. In June 2000, Jones left the Biloxi Police Department to become a full-time instructor for the Harrison County Sheriffs Department's Law Enforcement Training Academy where he was promoted to the Director of the Southern Regional Public Safety Institute and secured $1 million federally earmarked for the Mississippi Rural Law Enforcement Mobile Training Program. In the latter part of his career, Jones joined the D'Iberville Police Department and served as a narcotics investigator, promoted to the rank of Captain, Operations Commander, Deputy Chief of Police, and City Manager.

For his service, Jones has been awarded numerous prestigious awards including a two-time recipient of the Medal of Valor, the City of Biloxi Mayor's Commendation, Deputy of the Year, Officer of the Year, a two-time recipient of the Southern Regional Public Safety Institute's Outstanding Instructor Award, and a two-time recipient of the Police Star Award.

Jones has continuously gone above and beyond to answer the call of public service. I am grateful for his service and dedication to South Mississippi. Most importantly, he embodies the virtues of integrity, hard work, and selflessness that South Mississippians expect from their government officials. Clay leaves the City of D'Iberville better than he found it. On behalf of the Fourth Congressional District of Mississippi, I congratulate Clay Jones on his retirement.

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