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Jackson County Board of Supervisors President Mike Mangum addresses the media regarding Sheriff Mike Byrd's resignation as supervisors John McKay, Melton Harris and Barry Mangum look on Wednesday night on the steps of the Jackson County Courthouse.

(Warren Kulo/wkulo@al.com)

PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Although it was announced on the steps of the Jackson County Courthouse, it was on the side of the roadway along Highway 63 Mike Byrd tendered his letter of resignation as Jackson County Sheriff.

Board of Supervisors President Mike Mangum said he received a call from Byrd late Wednesday afternoon, asking Mangum to meet him.

"I met him on Highway 63, where he presented me with his letter of resignation," Mangum said.

Mike Byrd's letter of resignation as Jackson County Sheriff.

Mangum said there was little said between the two men, other than Byrd's comment "I think you have been looking for this." Mangum described Byrd's demeanor as "solemn."

Byrd's letter makes his resignation official as of 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31 and appoints Chief Deputy Ken Broadus to serve in Byrd's stead until that date.

Questions were raised, however, as to whether Byrd can remain the sheriff, even if in name only, in light of his

, when he pleaded guilty to a federal obstruction of justice charge.

State law mandates that elected officials convicted of a felony must either resign or be removed from office. Mangum said the county's legal department will seek guidance from the Mississippi Attorney General's office on the matter.

In a separate statement,

from the state AG on the timing of Byrd's resignation.

Assuming Byrd is allowed to hold the title of sheriff until Dec. 31, Mangum said the board of supervisors would work to appoint an interim sheriff at its Jan. 6 meeting.

"This is an opportunity to move forward," Mangum said. "A lot of people have already expressed an interest in serving as interim sheriff."

Mangum, joined on the steps of the courthouse by fellow supervisors John McKay, Melton Harris and Barry Cumbest, was asked if they were comfortable with Byrd's resignation taking effect on Dec. 31 and Broadus serving as de facto sheriff until that time.

"We have great people working in the Jackson County Sheriff's Office," Mangum said. "Ken Broadus is one of those people. He is the Chief Deputy and the next in line."

McKay admitted that he is troubled by the image the Byrd case has projected on the county.

"It's certainly something we're concerned with," he said. "It's given the county a black-eye right now, but we hope to get that resolved and move forward quickly with a new sheriff."

Harris said the board has not ruled out any candidates for the interim job, including current JCSO staff. Cumbest added that the charges were strictly against Byrd, not the department as a whole.

In his letter, Byrd indicates he will immediately remove all personal property from the JCSO and return all county property to Broadus.

The resignation, when effective, will end Byrd's 14 years as Jackson County Sheriff. He has been in law enforcement for some 40 years.

Still to come is a Thursday morning status hearing on the 31-count state indictment brought against Byrd, including 10 counts of embezzlement, 10 counts of fraud, two counts of hindering prosecution in the second degree, two counts of tampering with a witness, one count of perjury, two counts of attempt subornation of perjury, two counts of intimidating an officer in the discharge of his duties and two counts of extortion.