Page 128 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2018

FIRST RESPONDERS keeping the peace JACKSON COUNTY
SHERIFF’S OFFICE
FULFILLS DUTIES FOR A GROWING COUNTY
story by Lynn Lofton
photo courtesy of
TJackson County Sheriff’s Office
he Jackson County Sheriff’s Office covers a lot of territory and has a long list of duties in a county with a growing population. Under Sheriff
Mike Ezell the department includes 170 full and part-time employees with another 80 at the correctional facility for a total of 250 employees.
Additionally, there are
40 reserve volunteers.
Chief Deputy John Ledbetter said, “We have a lot
of people,
but we also have a lot of responsibility. We’re responsible
THE JACKSON COUNTY Sheriff’s Office, employs a total of 250 with an additional 40 reserve volunteers.
SHERIFF Mike Ezell
1,000 square miles.
The chief says the majority of crimes
involve theft of some kind and these are usually drug related. “What we see the most of now involves prescription pain killers,” he added.
New deputies go through intensive training when they’re hired and in- house training continues to ensure that the staff is always prepared and professional.
Sheriff Ezell believes in keeping the lines of communication open through community outreach. “I really feel that the more we’re involved with all aspect of the community, the more the community will understand what we do,” he said.
The sheriff says the department is “very involved with the jail ministry” including spiritual counseling. “We also have a GED program that’s conducted at the jail,” he added.
“Hopefully, these programs will help inmates to not be repeat offenders.”
A popular event is Coffee with
the Sheriff, which he does all over
the county. This month many staff members will coach and play basketball with students in the Hoops for Hope program. Other employees will support the Special Olympic Law Enforcement Torch Run when it takes place.
The sheriff speaks to senior citizen groups, gives active shooter response talks and participates in community and homeowner meetings to address crime. The department will also assist communities with setting up Neighborhood Watch programs.
With years of law enforcement experience, including 22 years with the Pascagoula Police Department, Ezell says attending the FBI Academy is a highlight of his career.
for patrolling and answering calls for service in the unincorporated areas of the county 24 hours of every day. We have responsibility for serving court paperwork and land notices
all over the county, including the municipalities.”
The divisions of this office are traffic, regular and correctional deputies, investigation, administrative, process, marine patrol and crossing guards for a total land area of 780 square miles; adding the waterways pushes it to
128 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • July 2018
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