FLOWOOD, Miss. — More than 900 law enforcement officers, firefighters, prosecutors and first responders from across Mississippi gathered this week for the 2026 Mississippi Public Safety Summit, organizers said.
The four-day summit began Tuesday night at the Sheraton Flowood/The Refuge and is hosted by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. The event, now in its fourth year after launching in 2023, featured a keynote by former first responder and motivational speaker Travis Howze.
“This was something we knew was needed,” Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell said during an interview with Darkhorse Press alongside Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I’m shocked that it has grown this fast.” Fitch said the summit was designed to bring every level of public safety personnel together in one place.
Sessions covered leadership, mental wellness, communication strategies, digital threats, domestic violence prevention and investigative techniques. Presentations included “Operation Roadkill – Going Undercover with Scott Payne,” “Understanding and Responding to Emerging Digital Threats” with Heather Girton, and “Profiling Serial Killers — Getting Inside the Mind” with Phil Chalmers. A media relations panel featured Darkhorse Press publisher Therese Apel and public information officers Breck Jones and Jason DuCré.
FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey took part in a fireside chat, which Fitch noted reflected increased federal engagement. Tindell said the summit’s value lies in building relationships among local, state and federal agencies before emergencies occur. The event also included the Governor’s Public Safety Awards luncheon, exhibitor halls, networking events and a golf tournament at The Refuge Golf Course.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
