Mar 23, 2016: Sun Herald: Gulfport kills Lil Boosie outdoor concert; show will go on inside
Police Chief Leonard Papania told the council that in 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, 38 percent of calls for service in the vicinity -- a total of 85 calls -- involved Club Illusion.
Police Chief Leonard Papania told the council that in 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, 38 percent of calls for service in the vicinity -- a total of 85 calls -- involved Club Illusion.
Mar 3, 2016: WLOX: Gulfport police chief: Lawmakers need to listen to law enforcers about guns
Gulfport Police Chief Leonard Papania has had enough of gun violence and gun control.
Gulfport Police Chief Leonard Papania has had enough of gun violence and gun control.
Jan 25, 2016: WLOX: Police chief speaks on Gulfport's first homicide of 2016
Gulfport Police Chief Leonard Papania described the murder of 16-year-old Ny-Gel Poole as senseless, sad and frustrating.
Gulfport Police Chief Leonard Papania described the murder of 16-year-old Ny-Gel Poole as senseless, sad and frustrating.
Sept 6, 2015: Washington Times: All S Mississippi law enforcement agencies use stun guns
Gulfport Police Chief Leonard Papania said his officers pulled out Tasers 135 times in the past year, and discharged them 108 times. Of 6,518 arrests, he said, 1.7 percent involved Taser use.
Gulfport Police Chief Leonard Papania said his officers pulled out Tasers 135 times in the past year, and discharged them 108 times. Of 6,518 arrests, he said, 1.7 percent involved Taser use.
June 22, 2015: WDAM: Papania: Open carry situation could have turned into 'violent misunderstanding'
Gulfport Police Chief Leonard Papania held a press conference Monday afternoon to discuss a situation that had many Walmart shoppers terrified Sunday evening.
Gulfport Police Chief Leonard Papania held a press conference Monday afternoon to discuss a situation that had many Walmart shoppers terrified Sunday evening.
Apr 20, 2015: Sun Herald: Gulfport police chief to criminals: Change, leave Gulfport or go to prison
To criminals, Chief Leonard Papania said, "We will be relentless in our pursuit to identify you and arrest you. So you can either change, you can leave or you can go to prison."
To criminals, Chief Leonard Papania said, "We will be relentless in our pursuit to identify you and arrest you. So you can either change, you can leave or you can go to prison."
Jan 27, 2015: Sun Herald: Gulfport police: Community involvement helps drive down crime
Chief Leonard Papania said community involvement has been invaluable to him and his officers and that the best way to prevent and solve crime in Gulfport is by increasing such efforts.
Chief Leonard Papania said community involvement has been invaluable to him and his officers and that the best way to prevent and solve crime in Gulfport is by increasing such efforts.
May 28, 2013: WLOX: Gulfport native Leonard Papania officially becomes police chief
Gulfport's new police chief was officially sworn in Tuesday afternoon. The auditorium at Gulfport High, where the ceremony took place, was filled with at least 200 people. Among them were Leonard Papania's family, friends, co-workers and at least two former Gulfport police chiefs.
Gulfport's new police chief was officially sworn in Tuesday afternoon. The auditorium at Gulfport High, where the ceremony took place, was filled with at least 200 people. Among them were Leonard Papania's family, friends, co-workers and at least two former Gulfport police chiefs.
Chief Leonard Papania is a 1984 graduate of St. John High School in Gulfport. He graduated with honors from the University of Southern Mississippi earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice. Leonard Papania first joined the Gulfport Police Department in April 1991 as a reserve police officer. He served in this capacity until November 1994, when he was hired as a full time police officer.
In 1995 he became a field training officer. He was assigned to the Proactive Unit, a street level criminal interdiction unit in 1996. This assignment included becoming a member of the Gulfport Police Tactical Entry Team. In 1997 he was assigned as a Narcotics Detective with an assignment to the Street Level Narcotics Investigative Unit. In 1998 he was assigned to the Coastal Narcotics Enforcement Team where he was sworn in as a Task Force Agent with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
In 1999 he was assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration Gulf coast HIDTA where he was sworn in as a DEA Task Force Agent. During his assignment he became certified through the DEA as a clan laboratory investigator. Also during this time he became a member of the Gulfport Tactical Sniper Team. In 2002 he received a promotion to Detective Sergeant and was assigned to the Gulfport Police Department Special Investigative Services. In 2004 he was promoted to Detective Lieutenant and assigned as the Officer in Charge of Special Investigative Services.
In February of 2006 Lt. Papania was promoted to the rank of Commander over the Operations Bureau by Chief of Police Alan Weatherford. In 2007 he graduated from the Southern Police Institute Administrative Officers Course in Louisville, Kentucky. In July of 2009 he was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police. On May 8, 2013 he was appointed to Chief of Police.
In 1995 he became a field training officer. He was assigned to the Proactive Unit, a street level criminal interdiction unit in 1996. This assignment included becoming a member of the Gulfport Police Tactical Entry Team. In 1997 he was assigned as a Narcotics Detective with an assignment to the Street Level Narcotics Investigative Unit. In 1998 he was assigned to the Coastal Narcotics Enforcement Team where he was sworn in as a Task Force Agent with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
In 1999 he was assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration Gulf coast HIDTA where he was sworn in as a DEA Task Force Agent. During his assignment he became certified through the DEA as a clan laboratory investigator. Also during this time he became a member of the Gulfport Tactical Sniper Team. In 2002 he received a promotion to Detective Sergeant and was assigned to the Gulfport Police Department Special Investigative Services. In 2004 he was promoted to Detective Lieutenant and assigned as the Officer in Charge of Special Investigative Services.
In February of 2006 Lt. Papania was promoted to the rank of Commander over the Operations Bureau by Chief of Police Alan Weatherford. In 2007 he graduated from the Southern Police Institute Administrative Officers Course in Louisville, Kentucky. In July of 2009 he was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police. On May 8, 2013 he was appointed to Chief of Police.