Doug Arp, legendary law enforcement officer and champion for crime prevention has died

Doug Arp, a retired officer from the Vicksburg Police Department and a recent part-time dispatcher for the Port Gibson Police Department, died this weekend.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace issued a CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) alert to all units Monday morning upon learning the news. Recalling their shared history, Sheriff Pace remarked, “I was alerted this morning when Arp’s daughter called me. I was just at Arp’s house a couple of days ago.”

Reflecting on Arp’s profound impact on the community, Sheriff Pace stated, “Doug was a dear friend and a dedicated law enforcement officer. I had known Doug since I was in high school. After I took office as sheriff, Doug volunteered on his own time to coordinate our National Night Out programs every year. He also became the volunteer historian for the Sheriff’s Office. Doug’s meticulous research has led to deputies being recognized on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C., ones that had previously been overlooked.”

Arp was a man of the world. His father, being in the military, had to move around frequently. This gave Arp the opportunity to be exposed to many cultures from a young age.

Retired Vicksburg Police Chief and current Warren County Deputy, Buddy Holliday, recalled when Arp began at the Vicksburg Police Department, “He had the highest IQ of any person I ever met. Doug was exposed to more cultures than you or I will ever dream about, probably. He cared more about the public we were dealing with, I think, than any other 10 police officers together.”

After his retirement from the Vicksburg Police Department, Arp found a new avenue of service as a dispatcher with the Port Gibson Police Department. However, his contributions weren’t confined to these roles. Arp, known for his unconventional yet effective methods, frequently used unique antics to emphasize crime prevention. His innovative National Night Out programs gained significant recognition, winning multiple national awards.

“It was a high honor to have a chance to work with him and to know him as a person,” said Port Gibson Police Chief Russle Dorsey, reflecting on Arp. “He was a great individual and very dedicated to law enforcement itself. He’s done some tremendous things, especially when it came to the [National Night Out program].”

Arp’s most recent project involved ensuring that the graves of local officers in the area, including those from Port Gibson who had fallen in the line of duty, were appropriately marked with law enforcement plaques signifying their ultimate sacrifice. Notably, Arp was instrumental in the headstone placement for Deputy Jasper Luckett, a deputy tragically killed while serving a warrant.

“Doug’s efforts to draw attention to crime prevention were legendary throughout the country,” Sheriff Pace added, recalling some of Arp’s unique endeavors which ranged from spending time on a billboard to residing in a dumpster, all aimed at raising awareness.

“Doug will be deeply missed throughout this community. His passion, quirkiness, intelligence, and his unwavering dedication to crime prevention will leave a lasting legacy,” Sheriff Pace concluded.

“He didn’t give the impression he was a genius, but I think that’s the category you would put him in,” said Holliday.

In response to the loss of Arp, Chief Dorsey shared, “My deepest condolences go out to his family and friends and everyone who loved him, our department as well.”