The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of a veteran deputy.
Deputy Leroy Barnes died in a boating accident on Dec. 3, according to a Facebook post from the Harrison County Law Enforcement Training Academy. WLOX reports that the accident took place in a lake near Cambridge Court in Gulfport.
The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office posted that they are “deeply saddened by the loss of our brother, Deputy Leroy Barnes.Deputy Barnes was an instrumental part of our Transportation Division and served in many different roles throughout his career with our agency. Deputy Barnes was the type of person that never met a stranger and will be remembered for his contagious smile and outgoing personality. Please keep his family and friends in your prayers.”
According to WLOX, the HCSO, DMR, Harrison Fire Rescue and Gulfport Fire Department Dive Team all responded to the Windance subdivision after receiving reports of a man falling out falling out of his canoe into the water.
Barnes was found in the lake by the dive team.
“Leroy worked as a transport deputy for the 1st and 2nd Judicial Courthouses,” Sheriff Troy Peterson told reporters. “Leroy was very well respected within the Agency and members of the Courts. He will be sadly missed by all. Based on witness on scene, this was an accidental drowning. His family and his law enforcement family will be in all our prayers.”
