Leadership

As the Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Commissioner Tindell oversees the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers’ Training Academy, the Office of Capitol Police, the Driver Service Bureau, the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security, the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory, the State Medical Examiner’s Office, Commercial Trucking Enforcement, Crime Stoppers, and Public Safety Planning. Commissioner Tindell currently manages over 1,400 employees throughout the state.

Commissioner Tindell was appointed by Governor Tate Reeves to lead the Mississippi Department of Public Safety in May 2020. Prior to joining the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, he served as a Judge for the Mississippi Court of Appeals, representing District 5, Position 2. Commissioner Tindell was appointed by Governor Phil Bryant to fill the vacancy created by Judge David Ishee’s appointment to the Mississippi Supreme Court. Commissioner Tindell also served in the Mississippi Senate, representing District 49, from 2012 until his appointment to the bench. He was chairman of the Senate Judiciary A Committee and vice chairman of the Senate Tourism Committee. He also previously served as Assistant District Attorney for the Second Circuit District of Harrison, Hancock, and Stone counties from 2002 to 2007 and City Prosecutor for the City of Biloxi from 2008 to 2011. In his private law practice, Commissioner Tindell represented a number of business clients and governmental bodies, including the City of Diamondhead, the Stone County Utility Authority, Harrison County, and the Orleans Parish District Attorney. In addition to practicing law, Commissioner Tindell held a real estate broker’s license and actively managed his own commercial and residential rental properties.

Commissioner Tindell holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the Mississippi College School of Law, where he served as student body president and earned honors of American Jurisprudence in counseling, negotiations, and domestic relations. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. He also participated in a study abroad program with an emphasis in finance at the London School of Economics.

For interviews or media inquiries, contact Bailey Martin at BMartin@dps.ms.gov. 

As Chief Counsel for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Corrie Carter oversees the Legal Division.

Corrie has been with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Legal Division since 2021, bringing with her years of legal experience, including previous work at the Mississippi Department of Corrections. This public servant has dedicated her career to ensuring faithful adherence to the rule of law. MDPS is incredibly thankful for her service to our great State.

A 2006 graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law, Corrie has proven to be dedicated and knowledgeable asset to the MDPS team.

As Deputy Commissioner for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Ms. Davis oversees the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory, the Office of the State Medical Examiner, and the Facilities and Maintenance Division.

Prior to joining the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Ms. Davis served as Policy Director for the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Ms. Davis has 20 years of experience in state government, having worked in the fields of public policy and human resources for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration, and the Office of the Mississippi State Treasurer.

Ms. Davis holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Millsaps College, a Master of Public Policy and Administration degree from Mississippi State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in History degree from Mississippi State University.

As the Deputy Commissioner of Finance for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Liza Hammett oversees the Comptroller’s Office, Grants Administration, Assets Management, Supply, and Management Information Systems.

Hammett has served in many financial leadership roles throughout her 23 years in state government and was serving as Finance Director at MSDPS.

Chief of Staff responsible for the supervision and direction of all Department of Public Safety staff, to include managing budgets and resources for all programs. Oversees the development and coordination of all policies, plans, and programs of the department. Works in accordance with the DPS Commissioner’s vision to ensure a unity of effort amongst the deputy commissioners and staff.

Tadd Pitts serves as Colonel for the Mississippi Highway Patrol at the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. During his tenure in law enforcement, he has worked as a deputy for the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, served on the Governor’s policy team, and served as Executive Protection for the Mississippi Speaker of the House. Most recently, Major Pitts has served as Deputy Commissioner and Director of Governmental Affairs since 2020, where he managed MDPS legislation, handles legislative requests, and coordinates with various officials and groups to ensure effective policy measures. His role also involves analyzing proposed legislation, preparing briefing materials, and providing strategic advice to enhance the department’s legislative efforts and engagement. In addition to this, he will also oversee the Department’s outreach programs with other public entities and public information efforts.

Tadd and his wife, Lindsey, live in Brandon, Mississippi and have three daughters, Madalynn, Mayley, and Mary Hayden.

In May of 2022, Governor Tate Reeves and Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell named Bo Luckey as Chief of Capitol Police. Prior to his position at DPS, he was a senior criminal investigator at the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, serving in both the Human Trafficking Unit and Consumer Protection Division. He has also served at Brandon Police Department, Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the DEA.

As Chief of Capitol Police, he oversees nearly 200 employees within the Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID). In the last year, Chief Luckey and his team have made many improvements within the CCID and have been committed to ensuring safety for those who visit our capital city.

Chief Luckey holds a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice from Mississippi College, where he has served as an adjunct professor in the program, and he holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the MC School of Law.

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew C. Lott serves as the Director of the Commercial Transportation Enforcement Division (CTED) within the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Appointed to lead the newly formed division, Lott brings more than two decades of experience in law enforcement, commercial vehicle enforcement, and transportation compliance.
Lott began his career at age 18 with the Mississippi Highway Patrol as a dispatcher before joining the Newton County Sheriff’s Department as a Deputy Sheriff and SWAT team member. He later transitioned to the Mississippi Department of Transportation Enforcement Division, where he served as a commercial vehicle enforcement officer. In that role, he enforced state laws governing commercial motor vehicles and developed extensive expertise in Mississippi’s tax laws, weight regulations, and North American Standard commercial vehicle inspections. He also served as a K-9 handler on the MDOT Drug Interdiction Team.

Suzanne Ferriss is the Director of Mississippi Crime Stoppers. Ferriss also serves as Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner of Finance and the Deputy Commissioner of Operations. She previously served as a probation counselor at Correctional Counseling of Mississippi and a teacher at Tri-County Academy. Ferriss earned a Bachelor of Education from Mississippi College.

Treasure Tyson joined the Mississippi Driver Service Bureau (DSB) in June 2023. She is currently the director of the DSB for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Prior to joining DSB, she served as a public defender in Hinds and Lauderdale Counties. She worked under two Attorneys General in Mississippi for nearly eighteen years. During her tenure at the Attorney General’s Office, she served as a Special Assistant Attorney General (SAAG) as well as a Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) for the Southern District of MS. As a SAAG, she represented state agencies and prosecuted crimes against public integrity as well as vulnerable adults and healthcare fraud. She was the director of the MS Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for over eight years during which time she served as a SAUSA in the arena of healthcare fraud. She also served as counsel in the Mississippi Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel. Treasure received her bachelor’s degree from Mississippi College and her Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law.

Mary Dukes is the Director of the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory. The Mississippi Forensics Laboratory provides forensic services to law enforcement agencies throughout the state, with laboratories located in Pearl, Batesville, Biloxi, and Meridian.

Dukes has over 24 years of experience and has served in both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory, Dukes served as Sales and Technical Team Manager for QIAGEN, LLC in Germantown, Maryland. She previously served as System Quality Manager and Forensic DNA Analyst at the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory. Dukes has also served at the Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory.

Dukes has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and a Master’s Degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She also holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from Louisiana State University.

Dr. Staci Turner is the state’s Chief Medical Examiner. She previously served as the interim Chief Medical Examiner. Prior to joining the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Turner served as the Regional Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. She also previously served as the Assistant Medical Examiner at Forensic Medical in Nashville, Tennessee, and as the Medical Examiner for the Southwestern Institute for Forensic Sciences.

As Director of the Mississippi Medical Examiner’s Office, Kristy Simmons oversees all operations of the state’s centralized forensic death investigation system, including the Forensic Autopsy Facility, the Biloxi satellite facility, autopsy services, forensic toxicology, and statewide medicolegal training for coroners.

She has been with the Medical Examiners’ office since 2007, previously serving as Chief Administrator, where she successfully eliminated a backlog of more than 2,000 autopsy reports, reduced toxicology turnaround time by 80%, implemented a modern case-management system, and secured federal and state grants to expand forensic capabilities and staffing.

Kristy Simmons holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration, is a nationally certified Surgical Technologist (CST) and Tissue Bank Specialist (CTBS), and maintains ASCP Administrators Service Certification. With deep experience in both clinical forensics and public-sector leadership, she is recognized for building strong partnerships with law enforcement, prosecutors, pathologists, funeral directors, and families while ensuring scientific excellence and compassionate service.

Lt. Colonel James Herzog currently serves as Director of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. He graduated from Mississippi College in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and was a member of the 1989 NCAA National Championship football team. Prior to his law enforcement career, he served as the program director for a local non-profit agency.
Herzog began his law enforcement career in 1994 as a State Trooper. He was a member of the SWAT team, a Tact Officer and a Field Training Officer.
In 1999, Herzog joined the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, where he conducted hundreds of homicide investigations as well as serial cases and public corruption cases. He was awarded the Lamar County Officer of the Year Award, a Life-Saving Award, Troop J Trooper of the Year Award, a Meritorious Service Award and a Distinguished Service Award. He later was assigned to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force on counterterrorism and national security investigations.
After a promotion to the Director of Special Operations and the Major Crime Unit in 2012, Herzog led complex investigations involving murder-for-hire, human trafficking, and other major crimes. He served as the state’s Amber Alert and Silver Alert Coordinator and developed and implemented the Endangered Missing Child Alert System for the State of Mississippi.
Herzog was appointed Deputy Director of MBI in 2017. Beginning in 2022, he served as Chief of Security for the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce where he was responsible for law-enforcement and security operations for major statewide events such as the Mississippi State Fair and the Dixie National Rodeo.
Herzog returned to MBI in February 2024 as the Director-Special Agent in Charge. He currently serves as the Sergeant-at-Arms for the National Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA) and is a member of the Executive Board of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Lieutenant Colonel Phillip Pope is the Chief of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), after previously serving as Interim in this role since February 2024. Prior to that he served as Enforcement Major for the central region, he and his team are responsible for the dismantling of several drug trafficking organizations responsible for importing large amounts of drugs into our communities. Lt. Colonel Pope has worked within the ranks of MBN for nearly two decades. Before his time with MBN, he worked for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Park as a conservation officer and Lieutenant over the training division.

Lieutenant Colonel Ivory graduated from Mississippi Highway Patrol Cadet Class 54 in October 1999 and began his career as a State Trooper assigned to Troop K in Harrison County. Throughout his career, he has held numerous specialized and leadership roles, including Criminal Interdiction Officer, Canine Handler, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Inspector, MBI Special Agent, Troop Executive Officer, and Troop Commander.

Lieutenant Colonel Ivory holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Southern Mississippi. He has served as Deputy Director and Chief of the Uniform Division for the Mississippi Highway Patrol since March 2024.

Anthony “Tony” Carleton is the director of the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer Training Academy (MLEOTA).Previously, Carleton served as a training officer with the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office, as Chief of Police with the Tupelo Police Department, as Patrol Captain with the Oxford Police Department, and as Chief of Police with the Columbus Police Department.

Joshua Bromen is the Executive Director of Public Safety Planning. As director he oversees the Office of Justice Programs, Office of Standards & Training, Mississippi Office of Highway Safety, and Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging. Bromen previously served as the Deputy Chief of Police at the University of Mississippi Medical Center Police Department from October 2021 to March 2024. Prior to that, he was the Director of the Mississippi Analysis and Information Center and a Commander in the Gulfport Police Department.