D’IBERVILLE, Miss.- Mississippi’s Public Safety Commissioner, Albert Santa Cruz, is stepping down from his position.
The resignation comes into effect on Jan. 31.
This will end his 43-year career in law enforcement, serving five years as the commissioner.
In that time, the agency took on driver-licenses modernization, the opening of the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory, and the merit promotion system was introduced, according to local media.
They also added 60 new troopers to ranks within the department that were seen as lacking. This was done through “trooper school.”
Santa Cruz will be 77 in March and was originally appointed in 2011 by then-Gov. Haley Barbour, and reappointed by Gov. Phil Bryant.
“The time has come for me to depart from public service,” he said in a statement that announced his retirement. “It has been my honor and privilege to serve the dedicated employees of the Department of Public Safety, the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the citizens of this great state.”
