The Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office has announced a round of promotions and a new hire in its jail and patrol leadership. The Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office promotions were shared by the department on social media and reported Sept. 22 by the Hatchie Press. They affect the agency that patrols Middleton and the rest of the county just north of the Tippah County line.
Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office Promotions: Who Moved Up
Three current employees are taking on new roles, according to the sheriff’s office announcement:
Brian Vandiver moves from patrol lieutenant to operations captain.
Ashley Jones moves from facility security officer to jail lieutenant.
Samantha Choquette moves from correctional officer to facility security officer.
The sheriff’s office also welcomed James Powell to the department as a new patrol lieutenant.
The sheriff’s office said each of them “will play an important role in continuing to strengthen the Sheriff’s Office.” The agency added that it is proud of the group and looks forward to their leadership in their new positions.
The announcement did not give effective dates or the employees’ years of service.
A Busy Month for the Department
The leadership changes come during a busy stretch for the Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Antonio Parham.
Body cameras: On Sept. 15, the Hardeman County Commission approved a $15,000 budget amendment from the sheriff’s office drug fund to buy body cameras, along with the computers and servers needed to support them. Parham told commissioners every officer would have a camera.
Monthly report: The department’s latest monthly report counted 81 arrests and 61 criminal incident reports from Aug. 15 through Sept. 14, with theft and burglary the most common incident types.
Why It Matters for Middleton and the Tippah County Line
The Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office patrols the county’s rural roads and operates the county jail. That coverage includes the Middleton area just across the state line from Walnut, where many residents cross the line daily for work, school, and shopping. New leaders in the operations, patrol, and jail divisions will shape how the department handles day-to-day calls and jail operations in the months ahead.
Residents with questions about sheriff’s office services, or who need to report a non-emergency matter, can contact the Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office directly. Tippah News will keep following Hardeman County law enforcement news that affects Middleton and neighboring communities along the Mississippi line.
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
