A Hernando police officer has been placed on administrative leave after she was arrested Friday on a criminal charge involving a child. Chandler Moss-Hernandez, 28, is charged with one count of contributing to the delinquency or neglect of a child, according to court records cited by Action News 5.
Moss-Hernandez was booked into the DeSoto County jail and was released a few hours later after posting a $1,500 bond. Her next court date is set for Nov. 20.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
How the Hernando Police Officer Case Began
The investigation was handled by an outside agency. The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office reached out to the Hernando Police Department about an investigation involving one of its officers, and deputies made the arrest Friday morning, according to reports from Action News 5 and the Daily Memphian.
A Hernando Police Department spokesperson confirmed the arrest but did not share additional details. Investigators have not publicly said what led to the charge, when the alleged conduct took place, or whether the case is connected in any way to the officer’s job.
Here is what is known so far:
Who: Chandler Moss-Hernandez, 28, an officer with the Hernando Police Department
Charge: One count of contributing to the delinquency or neglect of a child
Arresting agency: DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office
Bond: $1,500; released the same day
Next court date: Nov. 20
Job status: On administrative leave pending the outcome of the case
Administrative Leave While the Case Moves Forward
Administrative leave is a common step when a law enforcement officer is charged with a crime. It removes the officer from duty while the criminal case plays out and while the department reviews the matter internally. The city has not said whether the leave is paid or unpaid.
Because the sheriff’s office, not Hernando police, handled the arrest, the case avoids the conflict that could come from a department investigating one of its own officers. Any decision about the officer’s long-term employment would typically be made after the criminal case is resolved or the department’s own review is complete.
What Happens Next
Moss-Hernandez is due back in court Nov. 20. No details about the underlying allegations have been released, and no attorney information was immediately available. DeSoto County News will update this story if the Hernando Police Department, the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, or the courts release more information.
