The Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who still holds a Hardeman County reserve deputy badge issued under a previous administration to turn it back in to the department. In a public notice shared this week, the office said its Reserve Deputy Program is being restructured and badges will be reissued only to approved reserve deputies under the updated program.
What the Hardeman County Reserve Deputy Notice Says
According to the sheriff’s office, the request applies to anyone “currently in possession of a deputy badge issued through service as a reserve deputy under a previous administration.” The key points:
Former reserve deputies should return those badges to the Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office.
The Reserve Deputy Program is under review and being restructured.
Once that review is finished, badges will be issued to approved reserve deputies under the new program.
The office said it is working “to establish consistent procedures and standards moving forward” and thanked the public for its cooperation. The notice did not say how many badges are outstanding, set a deadline for returning them, or give a date for when the revamped program will launch.
Why Badge Control Matters
Reserve deputies are typically volunteers or part-time personnel who assist full-time deputies with events, traffic control, and other duties. Badges carry real authority and public trust, so law enforcement agencies generally try to keep track of every badge in circulation. Collecting badges from a prior program also helps prevent confusion about who is currently authorized to act on the department’s behalf.
The move follows other staffing changes at the sheriff’s office. Earlier this month, the department announced it had added two deputies and made a promotion, as Tippah News reported.
How to Return a Badge or Ask Questions
Former reserve deputies in Middleton, Bolivar, Whiteville, and elsewhere in the county can return badges to the Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office in Bolivar. Anyone with questions about the reserve program, or about serving as a reserve deputy once the restructured program opens, should contact the sheriff’s office directly. Residents who are unsure whether someone showing a reserve badge is currently authorized can call the sheriff’s office to verify.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
