DESOTO COUNTY, MS -- The DeSoto County Sheriff's Department is expanding. In October, the sheriff said he wanted to add another department and more deputies. He can check one item off the list.
A new location has been picked out. The new station will be in Olive Branch. The sheriff says it's needed to keep up with DeSoto County's ever increasing population.
The building is not going to cost the county a dime. The station will be in a former car dealership. The auto dealer is offering the space at no cost to the county.
Sheriff Bill Rasco says a second office will allow deputies to better cover the eastern part of the county without having to travel all the way to Hernando where the current station is located.
"To provide service to citizens who don't live close to the sheriff's department," he says. "One thing I feel like, is if I don't continue to progress this department and we get stagnant, it's time for somebody else to sit in this spot and take over because there's so much more we can accomplish."
The substation is also expected to save wear and tear on deputies' cars since those stationed out east will now have less driving time.
