Contact Phone Number: 228-865-7074

The Community Relations Division is comprised of a small staff and countless volunteers who give of themselves with no expectation of compensation or recognition.

The Community Relations Division is responsible for maintaining the lines of communication between the Harrison County Sheriff's Office and the citizens of Harrison County. While the Harrison County Sheriff's Department leads the way in keeping the citizens of rural Harrison County safe and secure, the Community Relations Division sees to it that the people know they have a Sheriff's Office they can trust in and rely on to do what it takes to maintain the quality of life we enjoy in South Mississippi.

As we begin a new era in law enforcement in Harrison County, the citizens have spoken loud and clear as to what they expect from their Sheriff’s Office. As we meet these expectations, it will be the Community Relations Division who must make sure the citizens are well informed about our commitment to protect and serve all the citizens of Harrison County. The following is a brief summary of activities and services offered by the Community Relations Division:

Neighborhood Watch

The Neighborhood Watch program has grown from six active neighborhood watch programs in 2000 to sixty two current and active neighborhood watch programs throughout Harrison County. The Neighborhood Watch Program in Harrison County has become a model for counties around the state and has been recognized nationally by the National Sheriff’s Association. Each Neighborhood Watch is designed to fit the needs of its particular neighborhood and it is this personal, hands on policy that we have with our neighbors that makes this program so successful.

Community Emergency Response Teams (C.E.R.T.)

The Citizen’s Corps initiative, an initiative mandated by President George H. Bush, has designated the Neighborhood Watch Program as a first line defense and has encouraged the establishment of Community Emergency Response Teams throughout the country. The Palmer Creek Estates and Robinwood East Neighborhood Watch Programs became two of the first in the state to be trained and certified as C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Teams). Each of the participants underwent an extensive eighty hour training course to be certified as CERT members, and participants are ready, willing, and able to assist first responders should the need arise. The Palmer Creek Neighborhood Watch and CERT won national recognition for their response to post-Katrina recovery efforts.

TRIAD and S.A.L.T. Council

The Harrison County TRIAD is a cooperative effort between all police jurisdictions, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, and the senior citizens of Harrison County to directly address the needs of seniors as they relate to public safety. The TRIAD receives a $5,000.00 grant each year from the Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging, a $5,000.00 grant each year from the City of Gulfport, and a $1,000.00 grant each year from the Area Agency on Aging. These funds are used to purchase safety items that the TRIAD distributes to all seniors of Harrison County free of charge. The TRIAD is governed by the Harrison County S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Lawman Together) Council. This council is made up of designees from each police jurisdiction, city governments, and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is the host agency for the program and the Harrison County TRIAD program is a model by which the rest of the state strives to emulate. This program has also received state and national recognition for their efforts on behalf of the senior citizens of Harrison County.

HCSD Adult Detention Center Group Tours (Ages 12 and Up)

Each year, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office tours some 300 high school seniors through the Harrison County Adult Detention Center. These students represent Gulfport High School, Harrison County Central High School, East Central High School, and Vancleave High Schools. The tour consists of a thirty minute presentation followed by a forty five minute tour of the entire facility. This program provides a first hand example of the consequences of unlawful and mischievous conduct, to include incarceration. The faculty members at these schools have expressed the need to expand this program to all high schools in the tri-county area.

Employee of the Month

This program recognizes outstanding performance by the employees of the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. Each Major and/or Captain is urged to nominate someone who has displayed the courage to go above and beyond the call of duty. Each recipient receives a plaque from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and a check for $150.00 which is provided by Goldin Industries. This program serves to encourage high standards of achievement and boosts morale department wide.

Other services include the following: