Law enforcement and community relations

WEBSTER COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s the dozen charges against Webster County Sheriff Tim Mitchell, someone the community trusted to uphold the law, that’s rocking relationships and possibly changing the public’s perspective of the law enforcement community.

The long list of accusations against Webster County Sheriff Tim Mitchell still shocks the community.

Many believe the charges shine a negative light in the eyes of the public and could also impact the community’s trust with law enforcement.

Embezzlement, trafficking of stolen firearms, the list goes on.

“We’re elected by the people. We’re entrusted with this office and we take an oath to do our job,” says Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott.

“When I was elected sheriff, the people of this community and this county trusted me to be able to do what’s right,” says Oktibbeha County Sheriff Steve Gladney.

So, when a list of 12 felony charges against a sheriff comes out, you could see how that could impact trust.

“It affects law enforcement as a whole. We try to be a tight-knit group and we work so well together and that’s the key thing, is building the trust with our communities out there. We try very hard not to do anything to mess up that trust.”

And if something does mess up that trust, does a community ever get it back?

“I think after time it can, you know, time heals and it’s just going to take some hard work to come in there and fix when something’s happened. Like I said, it’s trust lost not only by the community, but all your leaders and stuff and it’s just going to take some hard work to get it done.”

Gladney says trust is something law enforcement works very hard to build.

“We go out every day and try to treat people fair. We try to enforce the laws of this state in a fair and impartial way and treat people with respect, you know, law enforcement is a tough business. You can’t please everybody, you know, as hard as you try, you just can’t do that.”

Scott says having a relationship with the public is one of the main duties as sheriff.

“Even in these positions, we are human, we are going to make mistakes, but you learn from the mistakes, you correct them, and you move on, but you cannot cross that line and when you cross the line in any type of corruption, you know, there’s going to be consequences to pay, as it should be.”

The Clay County Sheriff’s Department has an open door policy with the public.

Scott says it’s for the public to come visit and discuss any issues they need to and the department tries to work with them.