DeSoto Co. Sheriff’s Department holds town hall meeting in Southaven

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. (WMC) - The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department held a town hall meeting in Southaven Tuesday.

Sheriff Thomas Tuggle and his command staff discussed different divisions within the department and took several questions from residents on a number of topics including crime, holding parents accountable, and how residents can get involved.

“We feel real good about where we are, but we’re just getting started,” said DeSoto County Sheriff Thomas Tuggle.

Just getting started and more to come was the message from DeSoto Sheriff Thomas Tuggle and command staff as they met with residents in Southaven talking all things from crime, personal safety, reaching young people and more.

“When you reach a child at a young age...and you loop with them, that is going to break that stigma of policeman being bad guys,” said resident Albertina Herron.

Middle school teacher Albertina Herron wanted to know the department’s plans to engage young people, especially during the summer.

Sheriff Tuggle told Tuesday’s crowd, they’ve sat in almost 130 classrooms and have more plans to connect with the county’s youth including a mentorship program.

“Hopefully I will be able to be a part of that,” said Herron. “That road to success, being that I’m retiring this year.”

The town hall, though already pre-planned, comes days after a brawl between young adults and teens at Southaven’s Springfest.

Questions around that event and holding parents accountable were asked by some residents including Eric Williams.

“People use public venues like that as baby sitting services and your parents, they have to know where their children are,” said resident Eric Williams. “I have a 13-year-old. I know where he is at at all times.”

Sheriff Tuggle told the crowd the issue there were “unsupervised minors.”

They’ll be looking at strategies to hold parents accountable.

Another concern for some, crime “spilling over” from Memphis, but the concern for the sheriff’s department is actually towards the south.

“The most violent criminals that are trying to get into our county are not coming from Memphis,” said Sheriff Tuggle. “It’s coming from the Mississippi Delta, that criminal element coming up from the Delta is looking for opportunities. These guys [DCSD command staff] have done a very very good job of eliminating opportunities. That’s why our county is safe. We’re addressing those issues and concerns that criminals look for.”

Command staff also shared how citizens can get involved, some of whom want to see a bigger turnout at the next town hall.

“There should be standing room only,” said Williams. “If you live here. If you work here. If you shop here, you want to feel safe.”

No date has been set yet for the next town hall meeting.

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