Coast police chief announces he’s retiring to help the homeless
After 6 years as chief and 25 years with the Gulfport Police Department, Chief Leonard Papania is retiring and taking on a new challenge.
He made the announcement Tuesday and plans to retire on Aug. 13.
He has accepted a position as the director of youth services with the Open Doors Homeless Coalition in Gulfport.
“Over my years in policing I have formed a strong bond with our community. It is truly a blessing to remain in service to it,” he said.
He began with the Gulfport Police Department in April 1991 as a reserve police officer and became a full-time police officer in 1994. He worked in the Patrol Division, the Narcotics Division and the Professional Standards Unit.
He also served as a task force agent with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and as a task force officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration. He was appointed Commander of Operations in 2006. He became Chief of Police in 2013.
