City remembers Carolyn Frayser, Mississippi’s first female municipal police chief
Carolyn Frayser, who became Mississippi’s first female municipal chief of police, died May 26, 2026, the City of Ocean Springs said in a Facebook post. Frayser was born March 13, 1948.
The post said Frayser began her career as a dispatcher and rose through the ranks through “hard work, determination, and an unwavering commitment” to Ocean Springs residents. She served as the city’s first female patrol officer and later its first female captain before being named chief in 1989, the post said.
After leaving law enforcement, Frayser continued working for the city as its first human resources risk manager, the post said. The city credited her with breaking barriers that opened doors for future generations of women in law enforcement and said her contributions helped shape policing in Ocean Springs and across Mississippi.
A celebration of life will be held June 20, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Center, 514 Washington Avenue, Ocean Springs. The family asked that memorial donations be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit that supports families of fallen first responders and veterans. The city asked that residents keep Frayser’s family in their thoughts. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
