Gulfport police chief stepping down

Gulfport Police Chief Chris Ryle is stepping down . The chief is retiring in two months.

Gulfport Police spokesman confirmed that Ryle is leaving the department.

Ryle is leaving the force to take a job with the Mississippi Aquarium as vice president of safety and security.

He has spent nearly 25 years as a police officer. He took over as chief after Leonard Papania retired in 2020.

Ryle’s departure marks the third police chief on the Coast to leave the position, following Gautier chief Daniel Selover and D’Iberville chief Wayne Payne.

WXXV is following this story and will have more details as they become available.