Sheriff seeks mobile app to fight crime

A mobile app that provides citizens with access to the sex offender registry, information on wanted criminals, resources for crime victims, tip submissions and more is being proposed by Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark 

Clark first introduced the idea for the app to the Board of Supervisors in November, sparking ongoing discussions, without any action so far. 

The app would allow the Sheriff’s Department to send push notifications about road closures, accidents, and weather alerts. Users could also register complaints or compliments related to their interactions with deputies.

The mobile app that Clark favors, branded as the Sheriff’s App, also features access to the county jail’s inmate roster, allowing users to schedule visitations and contribute commissary funds for inmates, and would establish a voluntary registry for home and business owners with security cameras in Neshoba County providing the Sheriff’s Office with contacts who may possess footage relevant to crimes, suspicious vehicles or suspects.

According to Clark, the Sheriff’s App could be funded from monies exceeding $11,000 left over from the Ally Telecom grant, along with additional donations to the Sheriff’s Department, all at no cost to taxpayers. The app has been effective for other departments including Leake and Lafayette counties, Clark said.

After supervisors requested two quotes to evaluate cost comparisons, Clark submitted an $11,285 amount for the first year of the Sheriff’s App, covering app development on both Apple and Android devices, along with support and maintenance functions. Another quote of $26,065 for year one, was provided by Most Wanted Gov. Websites with similar features.

Moving into the second year, fees for the Sheriff’s App would total $5,295, resulting in a combined cost of $16,580, Clark said. In contrast, Most Wanted will total $8,190 for year two, with a combined cost of $34,255, he said.

The board's hesitation for approval centers around funding year two of the Sheriff’s App. However, Clark suggested spending the funds generated from the inmate commissary during the first year of the app’s usage.

“The people of this county deserve ample police protection, and I am determined to provide that service,” Clark said. “This app could be a lifesaver and a huge influence on how we patrol.”

In other action, at their Feb. 20 meeting, supervisors voted to:

• Accept a total loss settlement of $4,359 for a 2013 Ford Taurus for the Sheriff’s Department;

• Approve paying a cafeteria invoice totaling $120 for deputy meals during the Standardized Field Sobriety Training Instructor School from Feb. 6-8 for deputies Priscilla Castro, Davirius Miller, Cortez Peebles, and Dyron Talbert;

• Approve paying Neshoba General’s January inmate feeding  invoice totaling $45,160;

• Approve pay increases of $0.50 an hour to correctional officers Laydric Carter, Mallory Miller, Bruce Ferguson, and Damon Hudson for completing the Correctional Officer Certification Course;

• Approve a reimbursement for a CAT excavator for the Road Department from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for $30,435;

• Approve paying off a Road Department CAT 307.5 mini-excavator for $26, 209 to Cadence Bank;

• Approve hiring Anna Lauren Bryan part-time with the Tax Collector’s Office at $9 an hour effective Feb. 26 pending a drug screen;

• Approve a maintenance request for eight school bus turnarounds at 10811 Road 541, 10182 Road 1713, Deer Creek Drive, 10281 Road 715, 10181 Road 1117, 11211 Road 361, 10701 Road 133, and 10840 Road 822;

• Approve Burks Mordecai Builders payment of $128,361 for work completed on a storage building project;

• Approve hiring Jessie and Frances Hamilton as part-time event staff at the Coliseum effective Feb. 16 at $14 an hour.