The Agriculture Division of the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office is working the far corners of DeSoto County. Pictured are Corporal Buck and Deputy Bevis, DCSO Agriculture Deputies, in the county’s southeast corner, looking for suspicious activity. Being an Agriculture Deputy doesn’t mean you only herd livestock. There are many other facets of these deputies’ daily duties. On this trip, they found this fellow, not sure what he was up to, but after a brief standoff, he continued on his way.
The Agricultural Division has evolved into an investigative position. When originally founded the main duties of the Agricultural Division were patrol related and handling livestock out calls. The Agricultural Division (AG) is responsible for the following: investigating agricultural related crimes, responding to livestock out complaints while on duty, investigating animal neglect, temporary fencing repair, maintaining the AG ID program, patrolling areas of the county where normal patrol deputies cannot go, handling livestock impoundments, maintaining marine assest’s and various agricultural equipment. A substantial part of their patrol efforts is focused on agricultural and farm land in an effort to deter and prevent theft of property. Through frequent contacts with ranchers and farmers the Agricultural Deputies are able to maintain a positive rapport within the agricultural community.
One of the most time consuming duties of the Agricultural Division is the handling of animal impoundments. There are procedures in place once livestock is impounded. If a cow is impounded the first thing the detective has to do is provide a notice of impoundment with all associated fees and post the notice at the County Administration Building, Sheriff’s Office lobby, Animal Control, and the DeSoto County Chamber of Commerce. The notice will provide a description of the cattle, impoundment fees, and state that after three (3) days the animal will be offered for sale. After three (3) days the detective will then post a notice of sale at the same locations. The sale of the cattle must be done between the 5th and 10th day from the date the notice was posted. The detective is responsible for putting up the notices, removing the notices, and coordinating with the contracted impounding officer.
Through proactive patrols, and within their purview, the Agricultural Deputies work with ranchers in an effort to ensure the health of livestock within the county.
