Chief Deputy Justin Smith started his law enforcement career in 2003 with the Olive Branch Police Department. After seven years serving at OBPD, Smith joined the Desoto County Sheriff's Department in 2010 as a patrolman.
Three months after joining the DCSD, Smith joined the SWAT team, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2011. In October of 2011, he joined the Special Investigations Division (SID), and was was promoted to sergeant in SID in 2012.
Smith continued to excel and was promoted to lieutenant in 2015. After four years, he was again promoted, this time to captain, in 2019, before finally being promoted to Chief Deputy in 2020.
As Chief Deputy, Smith is the designated authority of the Sheriff in the overall management of the department and is authorized to make decisions on behalf of the Sheriff in their absence. Smith reports directly to the Sheriff, and is second in command of the entire department. Smith is in an advanced administrative, supervisory, and technical law enforcement role and exercises overall command of all divisions within the department. He also maintains his status as a certified law enforcement officer, and has authority to perform all law enforcement related actions as needed.
Smith plays an integral role in ensuring department policies and procedures are upheld by working with those under his command, and is also a liaison for the news media when needed.
