Sheriff-Elect getting reacquainted with department and employees

MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A new sheriff will be sworn in for Monroe County in four months, but the sheriff elect has already been busy.

For Kevin Crook, walking the halls of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department was a homecoming of sorts.

“Coming back to something semi-familiar with, lot of changes on inside there, the department has been growing,” said Crook.

Crook was named chief deputy last week by the board of supervisors. He beat incumbent Cecil Cantrell earlier this month in the Democrat primary, and his Republican challenger, Andy Hood, dropped out of the race after Cantrell resigned abruptly.

Supervisors appointed longtime chief Deputy Curtis Knight as interim sheriff. He will hold the position until January when Crook is sworn in.

Crook has served as a deputy, and a justice court judge for the past twelve years, so he knows a lot of the employees.

“I want to help out where I can help out, at the same time there are some things that will allow me to work on getting ready for January, which is my vision, down the road, getting that in place is most important thing to me, I do want to be some help while I am here,” Crook.

The sheriff elect will be spending a lot of time at the sheriff’s department, but he’s also going out on patrol when he can with the deputies.

“It does kind of come back to you, and you’re in a little different role as chief deputy on scene, but watching guys, seeing them do their job,” said Crook.

Longtime employees who also know the sheriff-elect believe a smooth transition is already underway.

“We will continue to protect citizens of Monroe County, be here in my office, got open door policy, ” said interim Sheriff Curtis Knight.

“We here at Monroe County Sheriff’s Department are looking forward to it and things will be better in this county in the long run,” said Deputy Willie Lockett.

Crook plans to share his vision for the future of the sheriff’s department with employees during the transition period.

Both Knight and Lockett plan to continue working at the sheriff’s department after Crook is sworn in.