Retirement parade for Police Chief Leonard Papania

Sirens were blaring outside of the Gulfport Police Department this morning as officers threw a parade for their soon-to-be-retired chief.

Police Chief Leonard Papaina waved as his officers and members of the Gulfport fire and police departments drove by.

Papania was appointed Chief of Police on May 8, 2013, and has been working in law enforcement for almost thirty years.

Papania says the parade was a shock to him.

“The parade surprised me, the kindness of the people I work for did not surprise me at all. most of my adult life I’ve worn a badge and to step away from the ranks is the proverbial way to say it ‘bittersweet,’ Papania said. “I’m proud of the things we’ve accomplished. I’m proud to say I’m a member of the Gulfport Police Department and to finish here.”)