Longtime Magnolia police investigator Randy Perryman died at his home today, apparently in his sleep, authorities said.
Officers went to Perryman’s home on West Oak Street around 6 a.m. Pike County Coroner Percy Pittman said Perryman died of natural causes. Pittman said he was called to Perryman’s home at 6:39 a.m. and pronounced him dead at the scene.
“I think I speak for the whole department when I say that our sympathy goes out to the entire family,” Magnolia Police Chief Ray Reynolds said. “We’re going to stand with the family and support the family. That’s what we all are — a family. If you’ve worked there as long as he had, you know, that’s considered a family. He’ll be greatly missed.”
Reynolds said that he, along with the department, are requesting prayers for Perryman’s family.
Perryman had worked for the department for the past 20 years, serving in many capacities.
“He started back in the 1990s. He took another job for a little while and then came back,” Reynolds said.
Magnolia aldermen were set to discuss appointing Perryman as interim assistant police chief at a meeting Wednesday.
Perryman, who held the position of assistant police chief in years past, had intentions of applying for the police chief position.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
