USM Promotes Two Campus Police Officers

HATTIESBURG, MISS - USM's campus police held a promotion ceremony early Friday morning. The ceremony took place at the command center on campus in Bond Hall. The university promoted two officers DeJeremy Thomas and Shannon Yates both to lieutenants, which makes Assistant Chief Rusty Keyes happy. "It's always good as a command staff to be able to promote young officers that have worked hard," Keyes said. "They deserve this... they went through a grueling and testing evaluation process for this, and they rose to the top in that process." Both officers said that they are delighted about the promotion and eager to start their duty in their new position. "I went to school here so just being able to serve the people here at the university brings a joy to me," Lt. DeJeremy Thomas said. "It's all about community, being out and helping the community," Lt. Shannon Yates said. "I have a daughter that goes to school here, so it's good to be here." The campus now has a total of 36 sworn officers.