FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 9, 2009
Contact: Anika Mitchell Perkins
(662) 329-7124
aperkins@pa.muw.edu

MUW police chief to speak to high school students about smart choices

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Mississippi University for Women Police Chief Kennedy Meaders will reach out to high school students this week as part of the YMCA’s Y Teens Life Skills class.

Meaders will meet with high school students at West Lowndes on Oct. 12, Columbus on Oct. 14 and New Hope on Oct. 15 and discuss responsible decision making, accountability, failure and peer pressure. He will be accompanied by MUW Patrol Officer Juvante Burks.

It is important that youth surround themselves with positive people and learn how to say “no” to their peers, Meaders said.

“I feel that these are life skills that young men and women need to know in order to be successful in life and in their careers.”

Meaders said working with youth has always been a passion.

“I enjoy sharing my story of how hard it was for a mother of nine and how she did everything she could to make sure we stayed in school. They need to know that life is hard, but through hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.

Meaders currently serves as vice president of the North Region of the Mississippi Association of Gang Investigators.

In other MUW Police Department news, Randy Vibrock was chosen as Officer of the Month for the month of September and Martha Davis was chosen as Dispatcher of the Month.

Meaders said, “They both exemplify the professionalism that this department is striving for. They go above and beyond the call of duty.”