I was contacted by a local medical professional this week with a serious concern.
He sees a lot of local law enforcement officers, and he’s concerned about the stress levels of some of those who have accepted the responsibility of protecting our county.
“Did you know that there are only two deputies on patrol at a time.” he asked, clearly shocked by the revelation that Mississippi’s largest geographical county only has two officers on the road at any given time.
Imagine if something serious happens in Satartia that requires both officers and an equally serious emergency occurs at the same time in Midway. Or Bentonia and Eden. Or Vaughan and Holly Bluff. I could go on, but you get the point.
That’s a lot of miles to cover.
Our deputies are also charged with covering Shady Lane, which is part of the county right in the heart of the city. There are numerous incidents in this area, and they often occur in the early morning hours.
I informed the caller that I was well aware of the issue.
I’ve seen three different Yazoo County sheriffs make the argument that they need more manpower.
I’ve seen deputies work on their own time off the clock many times to solve a case or answer a call just because they cared so much about their jobs.
I can’t see how anyone interested in law and order could argue that we don’t need more deputies on the road around the clock.
Of course it’s not as simple as it sounds.
County officials have the tough job of trying to make everything work within the budget. They know that if they raise taxes, they are going to hear from their constituents.
I am among the many Yazoo County residents who feels like I am already paying my fair share of taxes, and I also signed a pretty large check last week for the taxes on this business.
But if there is some room for additional funding, law enforcement is overdue some growth. Adding another officer might actually be one of the most realistic things on the wish list of Yazoo County taxpayers because unfortunately, law enforcement officers don’t make that much money. People who work in law enforcement do the job because they love it and they want to serve their community. They’re certainly not in it just for the money.
“What can I do to help,” the caller asked, adding that he was concerned about some of the local law enforcement officers he’s been seeing.
“Tell as many people as you can what you just told me,” was my response.
A significant number of people have to make it clear that they want something to change for it to happen when it comes to government funding. That’s true on all levels of government, but it’s especially true on the local level.
In the meantime, let’s all make the commitment to let our local law enforcement officers know that we appreciate what they do. If we told them every day, it wouldn’t be enough.
