Tedrick Liddell and Andreas Walker once walked the halls of Noxubee County High School together as members of the Class of 1993. Today, they lead law enforcement agencies side by side in the same county where they grew up.
“I didn’t know that it would be like this one day, 40 years later, that he would be the chief and I would be the sheriff,” Liddell told The Dispatch on Monday. “It’s a blessing.”
Liddell took office as Noxubee County sheriff after winning a special election last fall, while Walker was sworn in earlier this month as police chief for the city of Macon. Though they oversee different jurisdictions, their history and shared focus on community is already shaping how their departments work together.
Despite early detours in his career, Liddell said he always knew he wanted to be sheriff.
“I remember … a time when me and (my grandpa) (were) sitting and talking,” Liddell said. “I was a young teenager at that time, and I was telling him that I was going into law enforcement. … I dreamed of one day being the sheriff of Noxubee County, and it came true, and I also prayed about it too.”
Liddell studied criminal justice at Alcorn State University before returning home to work as a youth program manager at Community Counseling Services. He then spent nearly a decade away with Kansas City Southern Railway Company, before returning again to serve as a school resource officer with the Noxubee County School District in about 2014.
His work in Community Counseling and at NCSD gave him firsthand insight into the challenges facing local kids, a perspective he’s carried into his role as sheriff.
“I just like working with the kids to let them know that tomorrow is not promised, and whatever choice you make today, you got to live with it, if it’s good or bad,” Liddell said. “You got to get older and try to prosper as much as you can, and do what you can to try to be successful.
“This is a small town (with) a lot going on,” he added. “Crime rates (are) high. The young kids are being guided the wrong way, most of them. We just want to get everybody back on track and work together as a community and just do the right thing.”
Part of that effort means doing things differently. This year, Liddell said he plans to implement a mentorship program in surrounding churches and schools to help guide young people on the right path.
“Everybody makes bad mistakes, and no one is perfect,” he said. “… My mentor program is going to be wrapped around things that make you successful in life.”
In addition to the mentorship program, Liddell said he plans to begin holding regular meetings with the residents of each district, local pastors and fellow law enforcement officers to address concerns throughout the county.
‘I wanted to be a part of that’
While Liddell always knew he wanted to build a career in law enforcement, Walker started on a different path.
After studying higher education at Mississippi State University, Walker began his career as an administrative assistant at Coleman Head Start. From there, he spent five years with the Center for Higher Education in West Point, traveling to schools to talk with students about attending college or technical schools.
“I always worked with the public, and I was seeing that there was a need for being more interactive … to protect the public,” Walker told The Dispatch on Friday. “I wanted to be a part of that.”
In 2009, Walker joined the Macon Police Department as a patrolman, working his way up to sergeant and eventually interim chief in 2025. On Jan. 6, he was officially sworn in as chief.
Walker said his early career in education influences how he approaches policing, especially when it comes to young people.
“That’s part of the job that really stands out to me because the youth is our future,” he said. “And if law enforcement has positive interactions with them early, I believe they’ll look at law enforcement officers as people they can trust and talk to.”
As chief, his focus is on building trust between residents and the police department in a city he says is “still growing.”
“I want it to be at the point that everybody is … more comfortable that when they see crimes, they report them (and) give us the information we need to solve our cases,” he said.
To achieve that, Walker plans to expand community outreach efforts with events like Coffee with a Cop and Hot Dogs with a Cop, rotating locations throughout the city so different residents can interact with officers.
Both Liddell and Walker said their shared history will strengthen collaboration between the city and county.
“I told (Walker) about what some of my goals were and what some of my plans were, and he said he’s willing to come and talk to the citizens about some things that’s going on in the city limits so we can help make the community safe … and whatever we can do for the kids … we’re just trying to make it happen,” Liddell said.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
