In response to comments made about the county pay on 3/13/09 and in defense of myself and other deputies and other personnel with the Panola County Sheriff’s Department, I would like to say that as a deputy for the past three years, only once have I turned in overtime: 2½ hours. That is not to say that deputies do not work extra hours.  Most of us have freely given our time after our shifts or on our days off to do follow up investigations on cases, show up for court to prosecute cases, ensure the county vehicle we drive receives proper maintenance, attend required training, etc. I know of no law enforcement officer in the entire state of Mississippi that does their job for the money.  I believe the best officers do their job despite the pay. The extra time I put into my job is not submitted as overtime because I think of my job as a public service and believe that as a deputy I can make a small difference in the community where my family and I live.

Also, understand that even though the detectives and other personnel work a regular 8 – 5 day, detectives are regularly called out to work crimes that happen nights and weekends.  Often secretaries have to go back to their offices after regular business hours to access certain files and documents and provide support to aid in the capture and arrest of those that would break the law.  Because when the law is broken, doesn’t every citizen deserve all the resources that the sheriff’s department can provide to ensure justice is served?

The sheriff and his staff are doing an outstanding job. In this deputy’s opinion, the sheriff should aspire to make the department grow as the county grows. If this is seen as trying to be like Desoto County, so be it. I think the people of Panola County deserve the best they can get. I have worked all over the world with hundreds of different agencies and would put the law enforcement agencies in Panola County up against any other agency in the United States. Good law enforcement is expensive. It is going to cost overtime. If you want the services, you have to pay for them.

I am proud to serve as a deputy with the Panola County Sheriff’s Department and do not intend to hide behind the anonymity of a screen name on a website.

Deputy Billy Lambert ,

Panola County Sheriff’s Department