 <unk> by police chief Lee <unk> since 2009 , the Meridian Police Department consists of 115 full @-@ time officers as well as part @-@ time and reserve staff available . In 2009 , the department 's Criminal Investigations Division responded to 4000 cases , 2000 of which were <unk> . In 2000 , <unk> crimes were reported , up slightly from 2008 crimes the preceding year . Meridian has been described as " the <unk> city in Mississippi with more than 30 @,@ 000 people . " The East Mississippi <unk> <unk> is located in unincorporated Lauderdale County , near Meridian . It is operated by the <unk> Group on behalf of the Mississippi Department of <unk> . The chief of the Meridian Fire Department is Anthony Clayton . The fire department responded to more than 1600 calls in 2009 , including 123 structural fires and <unk> emergency service calls . 
