‘These charges are shocking.’ Mayor speaks out after arrest of top Biloxi official
Biloxi city official Frederick Cliff Kirkland is on personal leave with pay pending the outcome of a criminal case accusing him of molesting a minor.
Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich made the announcement Wednesday, less than 24 hours after Biloxi police arrested 67-year-old Kirkland on two counts of touching of a child for lustful purposes.
“As Mayor, I will always put the City of Biloxi’s interest first,” Gilich said. “These charges are shocking. While I have known Cliff Kirkland for over 30 years, be assured there will be no special treatment. As a Civil Service employee, he is entitled to due process.”
Gilich has called a special meeting Monday to brief city leaders on the case.
Kirkland’s arrest came in the aftermath of an ongoing investigation into a Dec. 13 complaint about a person inappropriately touching a child in the 100 block of Thomas Street. The Sun Herald requested additional information about the arrest, but Maj. Christopher De Back said the investigation is ongoing and no other details would be released, including the age of the alleged victim.
Justice Court Judge Bruce Strong had set Kirkland’s bond at a total or $200,000 following his arrest Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, Kirkland’s attorney, Keith Pisarich, filed a motion for bond reduction, noting that Kirkland had no prior arrest record. Judge Melvin Ray reduced Kirkland’s bond to a total of $100,000, or $50,000 on each charge.
If released on bond, the judge said Kirkland could not have any contact with the alleged victim or any other minor under the age of 18.
The Sun Herald reached out to Pisarich for comment Wednesday, but he declined to do so.
Kirkland has been mainstay in Biloxi for years. He started working for Gilich as a member of his transition team following his election as mayor in May 2015.
Soon after, Kirkland was hired to fill the newly-created position of Civic Innovation and Development Officer in the city at an annual salary of $96,000.
In that position, Kirkland serves as one of go-to city leaders to do business in Biloxi or to expand existing businesses, as well as strategic planning for economic development.
Additionally, Kirkland was hired to help city attorney Gerald Blessey in creating incentives for innovative high-tech business development and to coordinate joint economic development efforts with federal, state, and local municipal and county governments.
According to his LinkedIn site, Kirkland received a degree in journalism in 1974 from University of Southern Mississippi and is an “accomplished journalist, municipal official, gaming executive and business/government consultant.”
He also is a member of the Harrison County Development Commission, a past president of Biloxi Main Street, and a former casino executive.
Kirkland first worked for the city when past Mayor Pete Halat named him chief administrative officer in the late 1980s and 1990s. He later worked under Mayor A.J. Holloway.
Anyone with information in the criminal case is asked to contact Biloxi Police’s Criminal Investigation Division at 228-435-6112, 228-392-0641.
Anonymous tips can be left by calling Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-877-787-5898 or online at mscoastcrimestoppers.com.
This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 12:01 PM.
