Hayes Baggett Re-election for Chief of Police of Marianna

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Oct 28 2015 9:06 AM

Lifelong native of Jackson County and Marianna resident Hayes Baggett formally announces his intention to run for re-election for Chief of Police of Marianna. This election will be held at Marianna City Hall on Tuesday, April 12, 2016.

First elected to serve as Marianna’s Chief of Police in 2008, Baggett ran unopposed in 2012. Hayes Baggett has achieved much throughout his career in law enforcement that began in 1983 as a Communication Officer for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department under Sheriff John P. McDaniel. Hayes then advanced to the position of Deputy Sheriff and served as a Bailiff within the Court System and as the Deputy Sheriff assigned to Chipola College.

Baggett has a diverse background in law enforcement spanning over 30 years.While attending FSU, he also acted as a Pre-Trial Release Officer for the Courts. Upon completion of his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology, Hayes served as a Jackson County Probation Officer under County Judge Woodrow W. Hatcher.  In this position, he supervised a caseload of over 250 individuals.

In addition to being an active member of the Marianna community at large, Hayes is also a member of the Marianna Optimist Club where he has served as Vice-President and on the Board of Directors, a member of the Harmony Masonic Lodge No. 3, member of the Chipola Historical Trust, and is on Community Advisory Boards for FCI-Marianna and Sunland Center. Married to the former Amber Mooneyham, Hayes and his wife share positive feelings about Marianna, In fact, neither of them has ever even considered living anywhere else for Marianna is the home they love.

“We are fortunate to live in a community where people have respect for law enforcement officers. In some cities, you have a lot of disconnect, but in our community,there is a mutual respect between the community members and the officers that serve them,” commented Baggett.

“We have a great team of public servants here at the Marianna Police Department starting with the administrative staff, the dispatchers, and including the animal control officer, the full time sworn police officers and our reserve police officers. We are accountable to the people and I will continue to work with everyone in the community in order to keep Marianna a safe place to live, work, and raise their families.”

“Being Chief of Police is not an 8:00 to 5:00, 40 hour work week,” added Hayes, "We are public servants. We don’t plan our daily schedules around vacations or pass off work to someone else if it has to be doneafter 5:00 pm.We all work hard in order to get the job done and to maintain the public trust.”

Upon taking the position of Police Chief, one of the first tasks Hayes set out to accomplish was to evaluate the fiscal condition of the department.  “I am a firm believer that everyone must live and work within their means.  I adhere to that position in my personal life and hold the Police Department to the same standards. Since 2008, I am proud to say the Marianna Police Department has always operated within budget, often returning funds to the City at the end of the year.”  In an effort to save tax payer dollars, Baggett looked outside the box and now has several police vehicles that are powered by natural gas, thereby saving thousands of dollars in the fuel budget.  By keeping a very keen eye on the Police Department’s budget, Chief Baggett has been able to save money, all while providing quality equipment to the officers.  Baggett has proven to the city commission that he is fiscally responsible; therefore, when he approached the commission last year with a plan to increase the police officers salary to be more in line with other agencies of comparable size, the governing body saw his request as a real need and voted to approve the request.  “There are a lot of things that I would like to do,” added Baggett, “but we must work within a budget and not place additional burdens on the taxpayers at a time when many families still struggle and work two jobs to make ends meet.”

Since taking office in 2008, Chief Baggett has instituted many advancements at the police department that benefit both the officers and the public.  He drafted and the Marianna City Commission adopted a comprehensive policy and procedure manual for the police department, which contains written policy on officers wearing protective vests for safety and outlines a clear policy on the operation of officer -worn body cameras.   Baggett also worked with the city commission to purchase software that enables the department to use a computer- aided dispatch system.  All full-time officers have in-car computer systems which reduce the time away from patrol. 

Chief Baggett believes in community outreach, and since coming to office has expanded on the foundation built by the late Chief B.L. Parmer, who began the highly successful Police Care Program and the House Check Program.  Hayes’ goal is to get officers out in the community in a positive role.  “It helps to know the people you protect.  If you know their name and they know you, then when you have to respond to a situation, you can approach them as a familiar face, thereby dispelling tension and hopefully diffusing the situation,” he said.  Chief Baggett has added a bicycle patrol unit that allows officers to patrol neighborhoods and festival settings, he records a weekly radio broadcast, “the MPD Minute,” which lets the citizens know what the Police Department has been doing over the previous 7 days and the Police Department has partnered with Chipola Crime Stoppers and other local law enforcement agencies to sponsor the annual National Night Out every August.  “I believe communication is the key to success. I have, and always will, maintain an "Open Door" policy to everyone. The election is April 12th and I humbly ask for your vote. Please call me at home at 850-526-4339 or on my cell at 850-482-1991. My office number is 850-526-3125.  I look forward to speaking everyone about my campaign or any issues facing OUR CITY.”

 

Chief Baggett asks you to consider the diversity of his law enforcement experience and the length of his career in law enforcement in this area.  He points with pride to his accomplishments.  He is especially proud of the respectful relationship he and his officers maintain with members of the community in all situations.  Further, he has high expectations that the officers show themselves worthy of continued respect by demonstrating their constant professionalism as they work to keep our city safe. Chief Baggett states, “Serving the public is both an honor and a profound challenge.  What success we have had is due to our collaboration with those we work to protect.  We have worked hard to earn and keep your trust; we are determined to keep the city safe.  I believe that proactive conversations like the one upcoming on the dangerous drug, FLAKKA, can help combat such threats to our kids and community.”

 

“Please help us to continue providing honorable, dedicated police work with programs designed to keep Marianna a safer place to live.  Register and vote in this election for Hayes Baggett, Chief of Police, Marianna, FL.”

 

 

 

 

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