Oxford chief McCutchen named president of Mississippi chiefs association

Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen has been named president of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police, putting Oxford’s top law-enforcement officer in a position to help shape statewide training, legislation and policing priorities. For Lafayette County, the practical question is whether the post will bring more access to resources and influence for the local department, or simply add another layer of responsibility to McCutchen’s office.

The Oxford Police Department announced the appointment on June 22, 2026, and congratulated McCutchen on the statewide role. The department said it expected him to represent the association well, but it did not spell out the length of his term or the duties that will come with the presidency.

The Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police says it was incorporated on April 13, 1979, and was built to promote professionalism among Mississippi law-enforcement officers through education, training and resource-sharing. The association also says it works to support legislation that helps law enforcement reduce crime and fear of crime in Mississippi, while strengthening relationships among officers statewide and better equipping departments to meet modern law-enforcement needs.

McCutchen’s elevation followed the association’s internal leadership ladder. In its 2025-2026 leadership listing, McCutchen was named first vice president and Long Beach Police Chief William Seal III was listed as president. The group’s 2026 summer conference on the Gulf Coast drew more than 300 chiefs of police and law-enforcement administrators, underscoring the reach of the organization McCutchen now leads.

McCutchen also framed the appointment through Proverbs 27:17, a verse about sharpening one another. In Oxford, the role gives the city a chief with a direct hand in statewide conversations that can influence how departments train officers, recruit staff, share resources and press for public-safety priorities in Jackson.