Off-Duty Vicksburg Police Officer Terminated and Arrested Following Confrontation With Fellow Officers at Department Headquarters

Chief Larry Burns confirms the arrest and firing of officer Christopher Pope after a Saturday night disturbance at the Vicksburg Police Department.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 6:30 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from KNOE 8

Law Enforcement Personnel Pivot From Emergency Scene to Internal Crisis

A night already marked by violence in Vicksburg took an unexpected turn when officers returning from a local shooting investigation were forced to confront one of their own. Late Saturday evening, while the department was managing the aftermath of a three person shooting on Hayes Street, units arriving back at the station encountered an active disturbance. At the center of the conflict was Christopher Pope, a 25 year old officer who was off duty at the time. The transition from an external criminal investigation to a departmental confrontation highlighted the unpredictable nature of the shift, as veteran officers were suddenly tasked with de-escalating a situation involving a colleague within their own headquarters.

Senior Leadership Intervenes in Station Disturbance Involving Unnamed Female

The incident reportedly involved Pope and an unidentified woman, though the specific nature of their relationship remains a central focus of the ongoing investigation. According to Department Chief Larry Burns, two high ranking officials, Captain Judge and Lieutenant Carson, personally intervened in an attempt to stabilize the situation. The officers reportedly attempted to calm Pope down and resolve the tension through verbal commands. However, the intervention was met with non-compliance, forcing the senior staff to move beyond professional mediation and toward formal law enforcement action. The presence of high ranking leadership during the arrest underscores the department's commitment to immediate oversight when internal conduct breaches professional boundaries.

Immediate Termination Follows Failure to Comply With Police Orders

In the wake of the weekend arrest, the Vicksburg Police Department moved swiftly to distance itself from the former employee. Chief Burns confirmed that Pope is no longer employed by the agency, a move that signals a zero tolerance policy for behavioral infractions that compromise departmental integrity. While the internal investigation is still active, the administrative decision to sever ties suggests that the breach of conduct was severe enough to warrant immediate dismissal. This rapid response aims to maintain public trust by demonstrating that the department will not shield its members from the consequences of their actions, especially when those actions occur...