WESSON – Town Police Chief Chad O’Quinn will soon be removinghis badge temporarily to pick up an M16 and patrol Iraq with the114th Military Police Battalion.

O’Quinn’s last day as police chief will be July 31. He willmobilize with his unit to Camp Shelby Aug. 1.

The police chief, who is also the Copiah County Sheriff’sDepartment K9 officer, will be the second officer to deploy fromthe Wesson Police Department in recent months.

Patrolman Robbie Douglas, an Army staff sergeant, is alsomobilizing for a deployment. Douglas is being deployed with the155th Brigade Combat Team.

Assistant Chief Chad Sills will step up as the acting policechief during O’Quinn’s deployment. The Wesson Town Board approvedthe promotion, and a slight pay increase for Sills, Tuesday.

“I think the police department will be in very capable hands,”O’Quinn said. “He’s loyal to the citizens and I’m sure he’ll takecare of them as well as I would.”

O’Quinn started as a patrolman with the Wesson Police Departmentin January 2002 and was promoted to chief approximately a year ago.Shortly before his promotion to chief, O’Quinn enlisted in theMississippi Army National Guard. He has been a Copiah County deputyfor more than five years.

The Army specialist said it will be “business as usual” untilthe end of July.

“The biggest thing is making my family is prepared,” he said.”I’ll do the mission my government wants me to do and return homesafe.”

O’Quinn said he is hoping to meet up with friends who deployedwith the 155th.

“I may never see them, but I feel more comfortable knowingthey’re there,” he said.

In other matters Tuesday, the town board agreed to match fundswith the Wesson Public Library to build a metal roofed pavilion onthe empty lot next to the building.

Librarian Susan Alsbury said the total cost of the project wouldbe $6,500. The move is an effort to use the lot now in a way thatwould not interfere with future plans to expand the library.

Mayor Alton Shaw informed the board that funds that had been setaside by the board for the past few years for the construction of anew library could be used for the request. He said at least $3,000had been placed in the fund.

Alsbury said the pavilion they have planned could beincorporated into the eventual construction of a building on thesite.