R. Frank Nichols

​R. Frank Nichols is a retired Chief of Police from the Starkville (MS) Police Department. He began his law enforcement career on December 21, 1992. He rose from the rank of Patrolman up to being appointed to Chief of Police February 4, 2014. He retired December 31, 2019 with 27 years of service.

Chief Nichols holds an Associate of Arts Degree from East Mississippi Community College, a Bachelor of Science Degree from Mississippi State University and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Degree from Troy University. Chief Nichols is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy class #255.

Chief Nichols has also worked as a Lecturer/Adjunct Instructor in the Sociology/Criminology Department at Mississippi State University and East Mississippi Community College. He’s a military veteran of the United States Navy and United States Army National Guard where he was deployed to Operation Desert Shield (1990 Navy) and Operation Iraqi Freedom III (2005 Army). He’s received numerous medals and awards for his service. Additionally, Nichols has received a Community Achievement Award, Outstanding Professional of the Year Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, a Humanitarian Award, Masonic Man of the Year Award, Phi Beta Sigma Man of the Year Award, Starkville/Oktibbeha County’s Top 40 under 40 Award, and he was inducted into the Starkville High School Hall of Famous.