The Remarkable Impact of Officer Phalba Holmes

Noteworthy Women - April 2024

Phalba Holmes is a fourth-generation law enforcement officer in Bay St. Louis and an amazing woman. As a police officer, real estate investor, involved citizen, and single parent, how does she do it all? And why?

- by Maurice Singleton

In September 2023, the Waveland Community Unity Organization recognized Officer Phalba Holmes as Officer of the Year.

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Phalba Holmes’s great-grandfather, William Tate, was one of the two first African American Bay St. Louis police officers (along with former chief Douglas Williams). Her grandfather, Johnny Wallace, was an auxiliary policeman with the department; her twin uncles, Joel Wallace and the late Johnny Wallace, were also law enforcement officers.
 
Growing up, Holmes never planned to be a police officer, but she remembers some great role models. “I remember growing up like seeing Ms. Thyra Labat, Ernest Taylor, and Mr. Hall. They called them Shaft. They came into our schools, engaged with the kids. If we had a problem at home… They looked like us.”
 

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Holmes moved back to the Bay about twelve years ago and realized she had several classmates who worked for the police department. She reflects that she didn’t fear the police because she grew up with many of the officers and remembered looking up to them as a child. “We were comfortable with them. There wasn’t a fear of the police the way it is now. You respected them, but you didn’t necessarily fear the police.”
 
However, she recalled several events across the country that muddied her perception of police officers, beginning with the Trayvon Martin shooting in Florida in 2012 and a list of subsequent events. Her initial response was to get involved by making social media comments on Facebook, referring to herself as a “keyboard warrior.”

Officers Fullerton and Holmes offered gun safety tips at last year's OLG Crab Festival.

 
“But that gets nothing done,” she said. “So I looked up and looked around me, and those classmates of mine were no longer on the police force. People that looked like me were no longer on Bay PD.”
 
She realized that the only way she could make a difference was by learning more. “I am only one person, but I can affect my community. I can affect the people that I come in contact with.”
 

Officer Phalba Holms participated in crisis intervention training with other BPD officers.

 
That’s how her interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement began. On a Tuesday, she inquired about a position with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department. That Saturday, she took a PT test (physical training), which involved pushups, sit-ups, agility drills, and a mile-and-a-half run.
 
A police academy class began in two weeks, and she notes that she wasn’t necessarily in peak condition at the time, calling herself a “couch potato.” In fact, she had been working at the Mississippi DMV office in Kiln, sitting behind a desk doing administrative-type work.
 

Holmes tilling at the Community Garden

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Her first position was as a reserve officer, but a month later – in January 2019 – a position as a school resource officer became available, and she was placed as an officer at Bay-Waveland School District. This position required three years of patrol experience, which she didn’t have, as well as full-time academy training, which she didn’t have.

However, after doing her research, she learned that because of her experience working with children and her customer service experience, she could be hired as a school enforcement officer. She explained that a school enforcement officer does not teach, but she could enforce laws, engage with students, be a mentor, and be the positive presence she remembers from her time as a student.
 

Holmes pals around with the Bay Tigers mascot.

 
Holmes is currently one of the community engagement officers for the Bay St. Louis Police Department. In this capacity, she works with youths and senior citizens, attends special events, and is present during high people-traffic times, such as Second Saturday and festivals.
 
“She’s a significant contributor,” said Bay Police Chief Toby Schwartz. “Phalba knows the pulse of our community. That’s what she brings to our department. She’s the perfect person for her position. She’s hitting the ball out of the park.”
 

Community outreach is a large part of Officer Holmes's job responsibilities.

 
Holmes said that her twelve-year-old son plays a huge role in why she does what she does.
 
“I am raising a young Black man by myself,” said Holmes. “If he were to get in trouble, what happens? I look at it, like, now people know who I am. Let me just call your mama. Let your mama handle you, because I know who your mother is.”
 
Holmes wants to provide her community with a trusted resource in the police. “When I show up, they take a deep breath. ‘Oh, it’s you.’ Or they call me and say, ‘My son this or that, or my daughter this or that. I don’t know what to do. Can you help me?’ I get those calls all the time. I appreciate it because I know they trust me.”
 

 
She has worked hard to help heal the relationship between the community and law enforcement. “Our community definitely supports us and uplifts us,” said Holmes, “but I would say, as a whole, the temperature regarding police is not in a positive way.”
 
Ultimately, Holmes’s goal is to foster a better relationship between police and community members. Her motivation in continuing down this path lay with her son, “Knowing that [my son] is proud of me is worth any amount in gold,” said Holmes. “He looks forward to me being in his school. The kids know me as ‘Robert’s mom.’”
 
If you are interested in working with the police department to build community engagement or have questions, email Phalba at [email protected].

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