Prentiss County Officers Graduate Law Enforcement Academy

Three young men from Prentiss County are starting law enforcement careers after finishing a 12-week law enforcement academy this fall. Prentiss County Sheriff Randy Tolar congratulated Officers Crowson and Jackson and Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) Parole Officer Nichols after their graduation on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026.

“I am so proud of these Graduates,” Tolar wrote in a post shared on the Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page. He described all three as young Prentiss County men who chose law enforcement as a career, and he wished them well and offered prayers for their protection.

Law Enforcement Academy Graduation in Tupelo

Photos posted with the sheriff’s message show graduates in uniform on stage behind a North Mississippi Law Enforcement podium. On the same Friday morning, the North Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Center (NMLETC) graduated Class B-83 at The Orchard Church in Tupelo, according to WTVA.

Details of that class:

• Graduates: 25 new law enforcement officers
• Starting class: 35 recruits entered the training center 12 weeks earlier
• Length of training: 12 weeks
• Accreditation: the NMLETC is accredited by the Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training

NMLETC Director Daniel McKinney reminded the new officers that much of the job is routine work. “Not every call will involve something exciting,” he told the class, pointing to reports, traffic stops, and everyday calls for service.

What the 12 Weeks Cover

The NMLETC runs the basic academy that many agencies in North Mississippi use to certify new officers. Coverage of earlier classes says recruits live at the Tupelo academy Monday through Friday for the full 12 weeks, which makes it one of the most demanding steps toward a law enforcement career. Ten of the 35 recruits who started with Class B-83 did not finish, and WTVA reported that they were praised for their efforts.

The sheriff’s post did not say which agencies Officers Crowson and Jackson will serve, and it did not give their first names. Nichols will work as a parole officer for MDOC, the state agency that supervises people on probation and parole.

Help for Short-Staffed Agencies in Northeast Mississippi

Each new class matters to small departments across Northeast Mississippi. Officials at the ceremony noted the strong need for law enforcement officers in the region. Officer shortages often leave officers working shifts alone in rural north Mississippi, WTVA reported.

Agencies in Prentiss, Alcorn, and Tishomingo counties have recruited heavily in recent years. Hometown hires like these three graduates help keep experienced officers in the communities they know.

Alcorn News MS congratulates the new officers and wishes them safe careers. For more on local law enforcement, see Corinth Police Officer of the Year: Det. Brad Beaty Honored and Prentiss County Checkpoint Arrest: Corinth Woman Charged.

Source: Prentiss County Sheriff Randy Tolar / Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department