Southaven police receive state accreditation

Mayor Darren Musselwhite announced Tuesday that the Southaven Police Department had received accreditation with the Mississippi Law Enforcement Accreditation Commision, or MSLEAC.

In January, we reported the Southaven department was in the process of receiving accreditation, standards that promoted best practices in law enforcement.  We noted the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department and Hernando Police Department were accredited through MSLEAC, and the Olive Branch Police Department is accredited through CALEA, or Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. Hernando police are accredited through both.  

Police officials say both are quite similar in requirements and purpose.  For Southaven, it is the first time the department has received accreditation with MSLEAC. 

Mussewhite, in his announcement, said the goals for both MSLEAC and CELEA are the same: (1) Strengthen crime prevention and control capabilities; (2) Formalize essential management procedures; (3) Establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices; (4) Improve service delivery; (5) Solidify interagency cooperation and coordination; and (6) Boost citizen and staff confidence in the agency.

“Ultimately, this accreditation benefits Southaven with controlled liability insurance costs, stronger defense against lawsuits and other frivolous complaints, greater accountability within the department, staunch support from government officials; and Increased community advocacy,’ Musselwhite said. “I commend Chief Moore and the rest of our team for a job very well done in meeting the challenging qualifications of this accreditation.”