The community mourns the passing of veteran officer and former police chief Michael Jerome Wallace Sr., who passed away on May 27 at the age of 65.
Wallace served as an officer and a detective with the Yazoo City Police Department for over two decades before being named chief in 2003. He was appointed to his leadership post under the city administration of former Mayor Wardell Leach.
Wallace was joined by fellow veteran officer Larry Echols, who served as his assistant chief.
“We believe that we have a good team assembled with Wallace being the chief and Echols continuing to serve as the assistant chief and the rest of the staff in place,” Leach said, in a previous Herald article. “Our commitment-our board, the police chief, the assistant chief and the staff-is to work together and do the very best that we can for the people in this community.”
During his tenure as police chief, Wallace was also among 30 law enforcement leaders chosen to attend the Session XIII of the Arkansas Leader Management Program, graduating in June of 2004.
Wallace was also very active in his civic duties, including being a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Funeral services were held on June 2 at St. Matthew Church of God in Yazoo City. Burial followed in Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of Scott Memorial Funeral Home.
