A Non-Lawyers Guide to Police Use of Evidence Search and Seizure

About the Book

About the Author

Tom Payne began his career in public service more than twenty- seven years ago when he was appointed a Deputy Sheriff with the Harrison County Sheriff's Department. At that time, the youngest deputy assigned to Patrol duty, Tom quickly learned the realities of law enforcement in the streets. During his tenure as a patrol deputy, Tom pursued and completed his Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from U.S.M., Gulf Park. In 1980, Tom was appointed an Agent with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and served in an undercover capacity for two and half years. Tom left the Bureau of Narcotics to serve as an Investigator for then District Attorney, Mike Moore. When Mike Moore became Attorney General, Tom headed the Attorney General's transition team. In January of 1988, he was appointed the first Director of the newly created Public Advocacy Division of the State Attorney General's office. In July of 1988, Tom transferred from the Attorney General's Public Advocacy Division to fill the position of Chief Counsel with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Tom served in this position until September 1989, when he accepted an appointment as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. Tom was then able to return to the coast being assigned to the criminal division in the Biloxi regional office. As a Federal Prosecutor Tom successfully prosecuted a diverse range of criminal cases including Arson for profit, OCDETF Task force, Violent crimes and major fraud cases. He also handled numerous appeal cases on behalf of the Government, writing briefs for each case and on several occasions appearing before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, Louisiana. Having distinguished himself among his peers he received the Special Achievement award from the Attorney General of the United States. Tom left his position at the United States Attorneys office when he was selected to coordinate the Criminal Justice program at all Coast campuses for the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Payne was recently awarded Tenure and promoted to the rank of Associate Professor. Tom has the additional distinction of being the first full time gulf coast faculty member in the criminal justice department to receive Tenure and promotion. Tom has lectured, conducted research and written extensively in the area of law enforcement training, private security, criminal prosecution and workplace violence. In addition to his duties at the University, Tom is the Senior Municipal Court Judge for the City of Gulfport, Ms. where he is the administrative head of the largest municipal court in the State of Mississippi. Judge Payne oversees three pro tempore judges and a staff of thirty seven with an annual budget of 1.5 million dollars. Tom also operates a part time private law practice, Tom Payne & Associates PLLC, and has been a practicing Attorney for sixteen years. Tom has a Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi in Adult Education with an emphasis in Criminal Justice and a Jurist Doctorate in Law from the University of Mississippi and he holds special certification in the security field (C.P.P.). Married to Diane Maguire Payne for twenty-one years, Tom and Diane are the parents of three girls ages 19, 14 and 11. All attending Biloxi schools and the local junior college.