STARKVILLE — As John Outlaw relaxed in the living room of his home Wednesday afternoon on Laurel Hill Road, he smiled when looking back at his 31 years of law enforcement experience.
He recalled joining the Starkville Police Department as a patrolman in 1979 under then-Chief John Gray, making about $690 a month and sometimes going an entire night without receiving a call. Some of his friends started to avoid him because he had become a police officer, and Starkville didn”t have as many of the “big city” problems as it does now, like drugs and the occasional violent crime, he said.
But Outlaw smiled even wider when talking about his future plans.
At 55 years old, Outlaw retired as assistant chief of the Starkville Police Department on Jan. 28 and plans to spend the next few months putting the stress of the past three decades behind him.
Outlaw hopes to travel to see his son, Travis Outlaw, play for the Portland Trailblazers of the National Basketball Association. Travis, 25, has been injured this season, but plans to return to the court shortly after the NBA All-Star break, his father said. The All-Star game is this weekend in Dallas.
The elder Outlaw also plans to travel with his wife, Markeeta, who serves as city clerk, and daughter, 13-year-old Kaehla, and to spend time with his oldest son, John Jr., 32, and nephew, Derrick, 24.
“I”m just trying to step back and relax and just sort of let everything fall off me,” Outlaw said with a smile.
Outlaw won”t soon be forgotten at the police department. A Starkville native, Outlaw had just graduated from Rust College with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology when he became a patrolman with the SPD. He then worked his way through the ranks to become a sergeant, a lieutenant, a captain, and finally assistant chief — the position he held for the past half-decade.
“He”s going to be greatly missed,” SPD Chief David Lindley said. “He was a valuable asset at the police department and he was the type of person you could always depend on, no matter what the circumstances.”
“And he was a good friend,” Lindley added.
Lindley began working at the police department in 1975, so the pair watched the city and the police force change over the years.
Outlaw feels it was a privilege to serve his hometown and enjoyed his time on the force.
“By me being born and raised here, I sort of knew everybody,” Outlaw said. “That”s one thing about a small town: You know just about everybody — I don”t care if they”re black or white — and you have a feel for the community. You sort of knew the troubled spots. You knew the troubled kids, the troubled adults.”
However, the job also had its difficulties, Outlaw said.
“The biggest thing that I think a lot of people have with law enforcement officers is they think that we are the enemy, but we are not,” Outlaw said. “We are, by far, trying to be the friendliest and kindest people there are, but I found that people don”t trust us. They don”t trust law enforcement officers.”
Police also must deal with the challenges of a growing city and student population at Mississippi State, many of whom frequent bars and restaurants in town. And that leads to drunk driving, public drunkenness and other problems, Outlaw said.
Still, the decision to retire was difficult, Outlaw said.
“When I was contemplating retirement, I did a lot of soul-searching,” Outlaw said, adding that he and Lindley discussed waiting until after the previous Board of Aldermen completed its term. “But I realized I wanted to retire when I was still young enough and healthy enough to be able to enjoy myself.”
Outlaw still plans to serve on the board of directors for the Clayton Village Water Association and the East Oktibbeha Wastewater District, which is still in formation, but he also plans to spend time hunting, fishing and gardening.
Celebrations are planned for Outlaw Friday at 2 p.m. in the City Hall courtroom and 3 p.m. Saturday at State Theatre on Main Street. The public is invited.
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