David Wynn

David Wynn was a former police chief of the Hattiesburg Police Department, and the first black police chief in the city's history. He was appointed by Mayor Johnny DuPree in August 2001, and served until March 31, 2007, when his resignation took effect. He passed away on March 15, 2019.

Early career
David Wynn received a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice from USM and a master's degree from U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA. He served with the Starkville Police Department for two years, then for twenty-two years with the Mississippi Highway Patrol. He then served as a training director at the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy in Meridian, MS.

Police chief
David Wynn became the Hattiesburg police chief on August 31, 2001, and quickly became a controversial figure. Many blamed Wynn for an overall increase in crime and for the loss of a number of a number of veteran officers to other departments. Others praised Wynn for improving the police department's relationship with citizens and reducing the number of complaints against the department.

Lawsuit
In June 2005 Major Johnny DuPree was reelected, defeating challenger Betsy Rowell. In November, later that year, DuPree said that he would not put his department heads, including Chief Wynn, up for reconfirmation by the City Council. On May 30, 2006, three members of the City Council (Kim Bradley, Carter Carroll, and C.E. "Red" Bailey) filed a lawsuit against DuPree, saying that he had not given the Council the chance to reconfirm his department heads within a reasonable period of time.

Resignation
On February 20, 2007, Wynn submitted his resignation to Mayor DuPree, effective March 31, in order to accept a job as the head of airport security in Mississippi.