The city of Pearl has a new top cop.
City officials announced that Nick McLendon has jumped ship as police chief in Richland to serve in the same role just one city over. McLendon takes over for embattled former Pearl chief Dean Scott who resigned after more than five years at the top of the department.
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The new chief began his career in law enforcement as a reserve officer in Pearl and has served in various roles in Rankin County. He worked patrol and SWAT, then moved up to K-9 and criminal interdiction in Pearl in 2008, relocating to Richland later that year.
The officer was promoted to lieutenant in 2012 and became Captain over the Richland Flex Division four years later, supervising traffic, narcotics, and interdiction. McLendon became Richland’s police chief in 2022 following Russel James’ retirement.
“I’m excited to have Chief McLendon at the Pearl Police Department,” Pearl Mayor Jake Windham said. “He has had a very impressive career during his years in law enforcement and I know that his success will continue in coming home to Pearl.”
McLendon will officially be sworn in on March 5.
