Accreditation

DeSoto County Sheriff's Office Accreditation

In November of 2011, the DeSoto County Sheriff's Department became the first sheriff's department in North Mississippi to receive the Certificate of Accreditation from the Mississippi Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (MSLEAC) and a Certificate of Recognition from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). The sheriff's department demonstrated compliance with 123 professional standards that are required by the State of Mississippi and CALEA. The Certificate of Accreditation and the Certificate of Recognition are valid for 3 years.

Representatives from the State of Mississippi conducted a three day on-site assessment of the sheriff's department to ensure compliance with the standards required. After the assessment, Sheriff Rasco and the Accreditation team represented the department in front of the CALEA board in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Accreditation Standards

Accreditation standards cover topics such as use of force, training, disciplinary procedures, selection process, promotions, career development, patrol, criminal investigation, pursuits and traffic. Adherence to accreditation standards prompts an agency to strengthen its crime prevention, establish written procedures for essential management functions, improve delivery of police services, solidify inter-agency cooperation and coordination, and to boost citizen and staff confidence.

The DeSoto County Sheriff's Department is proud to be State Accredited and a CALEA Recognized Agency and has full intentions to remain in the programs.