Photo: Thomas Tuggle fills out paperwork Tuesday morning as he filed for the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Republican primary. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Thomas Tuggle filed paperwork Tuesday morning to formally enter the August Republican Primary for DeSoto County Sheriff. Tuggle, the former Director of the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers’ Training Academy, is seeking the position that will be vacated when Sheriff Bill Rasco retires at the end of this year.
“I’m excited to officially begin my campaign for Sheriff,” Tuggle remarked. “I’m running for Sheriff to use my 30 years’ experience in law enforcement to keep DeSoto County safe. My top priority is fighting violent crime.”
Tuggle is a Hernando native. He joined the United States Marine Corps after high school. He earned the Combat Action Ribbon and Navy Achievement Medal while deployed to the Middle East in 1991. Tuggle worked for the Hernando Police Department after serving in the Marine Corps. He later graduated from Trooper School with honors, earned several promotions, and graduated from the FBI National Academy. Tuggle served as Executive Officer for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety in Gov. Haley Barbour’s administration.
Tuggle plans to draw on his 30 years’ experience in law enforcement to keep DeSoto County citizens safe from criminals.
Make fighting violent crime our top priority
Target criminals from Memphis who try to infiltrate DeSoto County
Ensure our kids are safe in DeSoto County Schools
Provide professional law enforcement and maintain strong community relations
Cooperate with city, state, and federal law enforcement partners, including ICE
Recruit highly qualified deputies: on the street, in the schools, and in the jail
Maintain strong financial controls to ensure Sheriff’s department operates within budget
Tuggle retired from the Mississippi Highway Patrol last year. He owns and operates a law enforcement consulting business where he teaches executive leadership, law enforcement ethics, and professional development across the country. Tuggle is a Life Member of the National Rifle Association and serves on the outreach committee. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Linda, and they are the parents of Courtney.
Tuggle has received the endorsement of retiring Sheriff Bill Rasco and other Republican leaders across Mississippi. The Republican Primary election is Aug. 8.
