If there is one thing our department prides itself on, it is transparent communication with our residents through our Sheriff App and Social Media. While we like to have a little fun on Facebook when the time is right, we also take great pride in keeping you well informed of what is going on and the steps we are taking to ensure that DeSoto Parish remains a safe place to live and go to school.
While our hearts continue to be with everyone affected by the horrific tragedy in Uvalde, TX on May 24th, as your Sheriff I believe that now is an appropriate time to address our community as we approach a new school year.
First and foremost, I want you to know that we are proud of the relationship we have with Superintendent Clay Corley, as well as our entire School Board, teachers, and staff. Everyone from the DeSoto Parish School System has been open-minded and honest with our office on areas of needed improvement, and I have been allowed the same courtesy as well.
Instead of taking to social media to voice opinions on what could have been done differently, we have utilized these summer months to plan, coordinate, and improve safety procedures in all of our schools. Meetings have taken place throughout the summer between our two offices (DPSO/DPSB), and we have also taken the time to improve on training and procedures with our deputies. While I will not divulge those procedures and tactics here, I assure parents that everything we do is in the best interest of safety as it pertains to students and staff.
Over the past few years, we have been fortunate enough to increase our SRO division to ensure an on-site Sheriff’s Deputy in every campus building in our parish. These deputies enjoy building a personal rapport and trust with students and faculty and view them as their own family. Nearby deputies are constantly patrolling near school zones, and often times on campus either assisting, or interacting with the students.
As we all know, every second counts in a life or death situation, and we have made major improvements to communications within our parish. The new Sheriff App allows for anonymous tips and questions for students and parents to get a speedy response directly from a deputy 24/7. Also, our DeSoto 911, Sheriff, EMS, and Fire dispatchers now work together in one room with an open line of communication among one another. This change has improved our overall response time tremendously.
Our department also prides itself in the newest state-of-the-art technology when it comes to computers, radios, camera feeds, etc. that allows quick access to information we never had before. Camera feeds from all schools are broadcasted on big screens right into our Communications facility. Massive new radio improvements have been taking place over the past few weeks that will also lead to better communications among schools, deputies and agencies. These, among other things, can instantaneously locate and identify a threat within mere seconds.
I say all of that to say this: “We will not hesitate to stop anyone with intent to cause harm to our students and faculty. An act against any one of them is an act against every one of us. We will be swift, we will be accurate, and we will not stop until that threat is neutralized.” My ultimate goal is that you, as a parent like myself, are able to confidently hug your child in the morning knowing you will hug them again in the evening. We pride ourselves in standing in that gap, and we are very optimistic and prepared for this new school year!
Sheriff Jayson Richardson