MPD officer killed in the line of duty identified

MPD officer killed in the line of duty identified

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A Madison Police officer was fatally wounded in the line of duty during a hostage standoff in Brandon Thursday, the authorities said.

The fallen officer was identified as Horren Randy Tyler, a 7-year veteran of the Madison Police Department, Chief Gene Waldrop said in a release.

“Randy will be sorely missed by all of his colleagues, family and friends,” Waldrop said. “The Madison Police Department asks for the community’s support and prayers during this difficult time. Funeral arrangements will be provided once they have been finalized.”

On June 1, at about 7 a.m., the Madison Police Department Special Response Team (SRT) responded to Brandon to assist other law enforcement agencies with a barricaded subject at a residence in the Crossgates neighborhood, Waldrop said.

Waldrop’s account goes on to say that during a subsequent SWAT operation later that morning at the residence, a Madison Police SRT member was fatally wounded by the suspect.  

“The incident is being investigated by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation,” Waldrop said.

Department of Public Safety Spokesman Bailey Martin said the suspect was also fatally injured and that a Brandon Police officer was shot during the siege but is in stable condition.

“MBI is currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence,” Martin said. “Upon completing the investigation, agents will share their findings with the Attorney General’s Office.”

Officers received a call of a possible hostage situation in the Crossgates neighborhood in Brandon in the early morning hours of Thursday, June 1, Martin said. Multiple agencies responded to the scene.

When they arrived on the scene, the subject fired shots at officers. One Brandon officer received significant injuries and has been transported to a local hospital. 

Martin said MBI is unable to release any further information at this time, including the identity of the suspect.

News outlets have reported that the suspect had a hostage and that the standoff began around 1:30 a.m. and concluded at 10 a.m.

Waldrop said that in addition to being a valued member of the Department’s Special Response Team, Tyler was the Department’s Field Training Coordinator, responsible for overseeing the training and career development of newly hired police officers. He was also a supervisor in the Department’s Narcotics Division.  

Prior to working at Madison, Randy Tyler retired as the Chief of Police for the Ridgeland Police Department. Chief Tyler was a graduate of the 228th Session of the F.B.I. National Academy in Quantico, VA and was an active member of the MS Chapter of the F.B.I. National Academy Associates.

Tyler was hired as the Ridgeland Police Chief in June 2014 and held the position until the summer of 2015. He succeeded Chief Jimmy Houston following his retirement. Tyler had been assistant chief for 12 years under Houston, as well as serving as Interim Chief while Houston ran for Madison County Sheriff in 2011. He had started with RPD in October of 1987. 






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