Stretch of 19 adopted in honor of late Meridan police officer

Family members of the late Meridian Police Officer Mst. Sgt. Bridgette Rochelle Horn of Philadelphia adopted a stretch of Highway 19 recently.

Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons met with Horn’s family members last week to recognize the stretch of Highway 19 at the Newton and Lauderdale county line adopted by the Horn family through the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) litter program.

Horn died on Nov. 19, 2020, after serving MPD for over three years. She was also a U.S. Air Force Veteran, the first female Mst. Sgt. police officer, investigator for MPD and member of Youth Football League. The Horn family adopted five sections of roadway through the AAH program for litter removal spanning over eight miles.

“Bridgette was a dedicated public servant, serving in the military and U.S. Air Force before joining the police department in Meridian,” Simmons said. “Her parents are continuing the legacy that she started by adopting these five sections of highways to honor her name. We are all grateful for Bridgette's services and will never forget her.”

The AAH program allows volunteers to adopt stretches of state-maintained roadways to conduct litter pickups. To submit an application for admission into the AAH program, contact MDOT Litter Prevention Program Coordinator Connie McMullan at 601-683-3341 or cmcmullan@mdot.ms.gov. You can view which sections of roadway are vacant here.