On Wednesday, Feb. 14, Hattiesburg Police Chief Hardy Sims announced the appointment of Tony Fontaine to serve as the Interim Assistant Chief of the Hattiesburg Police Department.
Fontaine has served the City of Hattiesburg for 23 years and has spent the last three as Major of Operations – a position he was promoted to in 2021 under Peggy Sealy’s administration.
With Fontaine’s twenty-plus years of experience in law enforcement, from special operations to police training and command staff, Chief Sims said the decision to appoint Fontaine as the interim assistant chief will advance their work to make Hattiesburg safer.
“As a seasoned officer and instructor, Fontaine has been instrumental in implementing innovative strategies to address crime, enhance public safety and build strong partnerships with fellow law enforcement officers and the community,” Chief Sims said. “Fontaine provides steady and stable leadership, and I am confident in his abilities to assist in leading the department effectively, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our community.”
Fontaine began his law enforcement career with the Hattiesburg Police Department in February 2001, starting as a patrol officer in the Patrol Division. Two years later, in 2003, Fontaine was assigned to the Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET) within the Special Operations Division, where he specialized in street gang activity and street-level narcotics. He was also assigned to the Metro Task Force, focusing on vice crimes and narcotics.
Fontaine was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2006 and was transferred to the Hattiesburg Police and Fire Training Academy, where he served as the Assistant Director of Training. At the training academy, Fontaine was responsible for the monthly in-service training of sworn police officers and the operational function of lateral training as well as overseeing the 17-week academy for basic recruits.
Fontaine earned the rank of Lieutenant in 2009 and was assigned as the Director of Training at the academy. In 2013, he was promoted to Captain of the Special Operations Division, where he supervised the traffic division, NET, Strike and all task force agents.
Fontaine has earned over a dozen instructor certifications, from weaponry to defensive driving, strategic self-defense and active shooter training. In 2014, he attended Command College at the University of Mississippi, to further advance his law enforcement training and education. The specialized training provided him with the knowledge and understanding of general management and leadership principles, including conflict resolution, fiscal responsibilities and the political, legal and social environment of law enforcement skills.
After graduating from Command College, Fontaine returned to the Hattiesburg Police and Fire Training Academy as the Director of Training. In 2021, Fontaine was promoted to Major of Operations and assigned to the Operations Bureau.
“I am humbled by the trust and confidence given to me by our department and leadership,” Fontaine said. “To serve as the interim Assistant Chief is truly an honor, and I will work diligently to uphold the highest standards of safety and security for our community.”
Outside of law enforcement, Fontaine enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with his wife, Michelle, and their family and friends.
Assistant Chief Fontaine’s interim appointment was approved by the Hattiesburg Civil Service Commission. There will be a formal testing process for the permanent assistant chief position, as stipulated in the Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations.
On Fontaine’s appointment as the interim assistant chief, Mayor Toby Barker stated,
“Our department is on a great trajectory as it continues building a safer community. I am confident in the leadership of Chief Sims and Assistant Chief Fontaine to grow officer manpower, strengthen relationships in the community and evolve our approach to law enforcement to meet the public safety needs of Hattiesburg’s future.”
