GULFPORT – Gulfport Deputy Chief Leonard Papania said his job has gotten a lot “harder” with the arrest of his fellow officer on May 5 on allegations of felony child abuse. Papania said 30-year old Adam Dedeaux, a nine-year veteran on the force, was arrested along with his girlfriend, 28-year old Kristen Eason, after her 2-year old child showed signs of physical abuse.
Papania said the investigation began after police received information that Eason’s child had been injured.
“Child abuse alone is a difficult case, and you always have to follow the facts and go with the facts,” Papania said. “The facts of this case pointed both to Adam Dedeaux and Kristen Eason, and that is what it is. We…made those arrests. We’ve worked closely with the District Attorney’s Office throughout the investigation…and it is our intent to see that it is prosecuted and all parties are held accountable.”
Papania said because of the seriousness of the allegations, Dedeaux, who was assigned to the patrol division, was placed on administrative leave from all of his duties when the investigation began.
“It’s disappointing…any time that a police officer is arrested for criminal misconduct,” Papania said. “It puts a bad light on all of us. And for that I, we, have to be extra vigilant in our work to make sure that the public can continue to trust us.”
Dedeaux, who is from Gulfport, and Eason, from Bay St. Louis, are both being held at the Harrison County Adult Detention Center on a $50,000 bond each.
Gulfport police are continuing with their investigation.
“Our job just got tougher…because the faith of the community in police has a bad shadow,” Papania said
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