New officers aim to serve in SO, police department

Philadelphia’s Noah Pickett is coming home to serve as a sworn law enforcement officer and give back to his community.

He is one of two recent Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy graduates as part of Basic Class 276 who will be in Neshoba County.

Pickett is joining the Sheriff’s Department, while Kelby Cole of Meridian is joining the Philadelphia Police Department.

Both expressed eagerness to serve the community, describing their graduation as a mix of uplifting pride and bittersweet emotions.

The 11-week training in Pearl from Oct. 6 to Dec. 19 was rigorous, with days beginning at 4 a.m. and often ending close to midnight. The mental adjustment to the training proved to be the most challenging part for both Pickett and Cole.

“You can’t really prepare for it,” Cole said. “You’re thrown right into it from day one—it’s all to prepare you for what officers experience on a day-to-day level.”

Cole described firearms training during week eight as the highlight of his experience, noting how the entire class came together as a team after overcoming many mental challenges.

Pickett enjoyed the driving portion of training the most but said his proudest accomplishment was earning the academic award for the highest class average.

“Deputy Pickett was always upbeat and positive about everything,” Cole said of the training. “He kept a lot of people sane.”

Although they hadn’t met before, the two bonded during training upon discovering they would be working in Neshoba County and after swapping Neshoba County Fair memories.

A 2019 Neshoba Central High School graduate, Pickett’s passion for helping others inspired him to pursue a degree in criminal justice at East Central Community College and later a criminology degree from Mississippi State University.

“I’m blessed to be able to start my career in my home county,” Pickett said. “There’s no better place than to start right here at home.”

Pickett credited Sheriff Eric Clark as an excellent boss and said he is committed to working alongside him to make Neshoba County even safer.

“Yeah, we run the blue lights and sirens,” he said, but the police are neighbors more than anything. “We are one of y’all and want to maintain everyone’s safety.”

While he dreams of one day working for the state police or a federal agency like the DEA or ATF, Pickett’s current focus is on building relationships within his community.

“Where you grew up is where you should want to make an impact,” he said. “I know Neshoba County is a great place, but I want to help put it towards the top. Why can’t we be like Madison or Ridgeland?”

“Pickett is an excellent hire for Neshoba County,” said Neshoba County Sheriff Clark. “I look forward to seeing him grow and mature as a police officer. He has a ton of potential.”

Outside of work, Pickett enjoys deer hunting, video games, lifting weights, and spending time with his family and girlfriend.

Originally from Utah, Cole moved to Meridian with his wife, Danielle, after working 12 years as a diesel mechanic in Washington. About two years after relocating, he decided to pursue a career in law enforcement to make a more meaningful impact.

“I really wanted to make a positive change,” Cole said. “Policing needs something positive to happen, and it starts with somebody being that positive thing. It’s always been in my mind to be the change you want to see.”

While working as a security guard at the Neshoba County Fair, Cole met Philadelphia Police officers Jessie Hamilton and David Brackett, who encouraged him to apply at the department.

“I see a lot of growth with the relationships the police department has with people here,” he said. “There’s so much to learn in this career. The wealth of knowledge that Capt. Hamilton, Cap. Brackett, Chief Lyons, and my other coworkers have is abundant.”

Cole and Danielle have three children—Caden, Colton, and Charlie—and enjoy traveling, visiting the beach, and attending concerts as a family.

Both officers share a passion for building strong connections with the community and aim to be seen as approachable individuals, not just as law enforcement.

“Serving the citizens of Philadelphia is a huge job,” Cole said. “It isn’t just about tickets—it’s about changing a tire, helping someone load up groceries, giving someone a ride, helping fix a car on the side of the road, and keeping them safe. My goal is to give people a comfort of safety everywhere they go in the city of Philadelphia.”

Pickett echoed Cole’s sentiments. “I have the chance to help someone on their worst day, turn that around for them, and show them that everything is okay,” he said.