Rankin County Sheriff's Office - MS

10/23/2026

This morning students participating in the Richland High School Driver’s Education program engaged with local law enforcement officers to discuss critical, real-world driving scenarios. The officers provided professional insights on key topics such as standard traffic stop procedures, prevalent teen driving violations, risks associated with distracted driving, and the legal repercussions of driving impaired.

Thank you to the following officers for their willingness to assist with the presentation.

Sgt. Stan Pellegrine of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office

Sgt. Jeffrey Grace of the Richland Police Department

Trooper First Class Darnika Mayfield of the Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop C

10/23/2026

***ATTENTION MOTORISTS***

Beginning Saturday, October 24, at 10:00 AM and continuing for approximately 10 days, both directions of Highway 80 at the viaduct near Gulde Rd will be closed.

This closure is necessary to make repairs after an 18-wheeler recently attempted to pass under the viaduct on Highway 80 between Brandon and Pelahatchie and caused significant damage to the structure.

Anyone traveling along Hwy 80 in the area will be forced to detour.

The outlined detour is as follows:

• Eastbound: Turn onto Gulde Rd just west of the viaduct, travel east to Gulde Shiloh Rd, then north back to Highway 80 near Gulde Cemetery.

• Westbound: Turn onto Gulde Shiloh Rd near Gulde Cemetery, travel south to Gulde Rd, then west back to Highway 80 just west of the viaduct.
A map of the closure point and detour route is attached.

10/22/2026

Everyone at the Rankin County Sheriff's Department offer their condolences to the Murphy Family and mourn alongside them and our colleagues at the Mississippi Highway Patrol on the loss of Trooper Landon Murphy. We will keep you ever-present in our thoughts and prayers that God will provide his Comfort and Blessing during this time.

10/21/2026

The Rankin County Sheriff's Department is imploring all residents to be suspicious of anyone contacting you by telephone and demanding that you provide them with any personal or financial information.

Scammers are constantly seeking to prey upon anyone in our society and everyone needs to be viligant.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a scam, please contact your local law enforcement agency or the Rankin County Sheriff's Department at 601-825-1480.

Remember, NO law enforcement agency will ever demand any type of payment over the phone for any purpose.

10/21/2026

ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025>066-072>074-230000-

1235 PM CDT Wed Oct 21 2026
..INCREASED FIRE DANGER CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS WEEK FOR SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS, NORTHEAST LOUISIANA AND MUCH OF MISSISSIPPI...

According to local forestry agencies and the U.S. Forest Service,
recent longstanding drought conditions have led to extremely dry
fuels, making outdoor burning increasingly hazardous. Conditions
are such that a spark from equipment, the heat from a catalytic
converter, or any heat source could start a grass or brush fire.
The combination of dry fine fuels, such as grass, and low relative
humidity will continue to result elevated fire danger across the
region this week.

Minimum relative humidity values will range from upper teens to
below 30 percent during the daytime hours the next couple of days,
supporting increased fire danger given the longstanding drought
conditions and extremely dry and wildfire prone fuels. 20ft winds
remain light during this timeframe.

These extremely dry conditions will support the spread of
wildfires, even with light winds. Outdoor burning and activities
that involve open sparks or flames are discouraged and extra
caution is advised with any open burning. Please report all
wildfires to local law enforcement as soon as possible.

Numerous counties and parishes are under local burn bans at the
present time. Fires place local forestry agencies, fire departments,
and other fire control agencies in life threatening situations,
and can endanger communities. Please use caution and help prevent forest and grass fires.

10/15/2026

The Rankin County Sheriff's Department has been notified that an older SCAM is resurfacing.

Multiple residents have been contacted about "missing jury duty" and informed that they have warrants for their arrest.

This is a SCAM.

NO DEPUTY of the Rankin County Sheriff's Department will ever contact you and request money or anything of value through the phone.

DO NOT provide any personal identity information to an individual through the telephone regardless who or what they claim to be.

DO NOT provide any money (Zelle, Cashapp, Venmo, Gift Cards, Cryptocurrency, Wire Transfer, etc.) to anyone through the telephone regardless who or what they claim to be.

If you are contacted by a Scammer and informed that you have a warrant for missing jury duty, HANG UP THE PHONE.

Scammers try to prey upon our polite and hospitable nature in order to obtain money.

DENY THEM. Tell the Scammers NO!

10/15/2026

***ATTENTION***
Important Notice from the US National Weather Service Jackson Mississippi

Radar valid at 303 pm CDT, Oct 15th 2026

ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025>066-072>074-
160200-
/O.UPG.KJAN.FW.A.0002.261016T1400Z-261017T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KJAN.FW.W.0004.261016T1400Z-261017T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KJAN.FW.A.0003.261017T1600Z-261018T0000Z/
Ashley-Chicot-Morehouse-West Carroll-East Carroll-Richland-
Madison LA-Franklin LA-Catahoula-Tensas-Concordia-Bolivar-
Sunflower-Leflore-Grenada-Carroll-Montgomery-Webster-Clay-Lowndes-
Choctaw-Oktibbeha-Washington-Humphreys-Holmes-Attala-Winston-
Noxubee-Issaquena-Sharkey-Yazoo-Madison MS-Leake-Neshoba-Kemper-
Warren-Hinds-Rankin-Scott-Newton-Lauderdale-Claiborne-Copiah-
Simpson-Smith-Jasper-Clarke-Jefferson-Adams-Franklin MS-Lincoln-
Lawrence-Jefferson Davis-Covington-Jones-Marion-Lamar-Forrest-
1240 PM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026
..RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 8 PM CDT FRIDAY FOR
PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS, NORTHEAST LOUISIANA, AND CENTRAL
AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI.....FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH
SATURDAY EVENING FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS, NORTHEAST
LOUISIANA, AND CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI...

The National Weather Service in Jackson has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from 9 AM to 8 PM CDT Friday. A Fire
Weather Watch has also been issued. This Fire Weather Watch is in
effect from Saturday morning through Saturday evening.

* WIND...North winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph behind a
cold front.

* HUMIDITY...Minimum Relative Humidity values between 25 to 40
percent.

* FUELS...Critically dry.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures will
create favorable weather for rapid fire growth and spread. Avoid
activities that promote open flames and sparks.

A Fire Weather Watch means that the potential for critical fire
weather conditions exists. These conditions could promote the rapid
spread of wildfires which could become life-threatening. Check
www.weather.gov/jan/fireweather for forecast updates and a
possible upgrade of this watch to a Red Flag Warning.

Forecasts Local Forecast Discussion Graphical Tropical Weather Fire Weather Aviation Hydrology Air Quality Recreation Forecast

10/15/2026

****BURN BAN EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY****

Due to the large number of forest and grass fires that Rankin County has experienced over past weeks a Burn Ban is now in effect until 11/15/2026.

The attached flyer from the Rankin County Emergency Operations Command (EOC) should address any questions or concerns, however; if there are any unanswered then please contact Rankin County EOC at (601) 825-1499.

10/14/2026

Sheriff Bailey and the Rankin County Sheriff's Department are proud to announce that Investigator Justin Davis, Investigator John Johnson, and Investigator Willard Holifield were honored by the MS Narcotics Officers Association for their work in combating Fentanyl.

The investigators while working alongside our federal partners were instrumental in the prosecution of drug traffickers/dealers responsible for multiple Fentanyl drug overdoses in our area.

Sheriff Bailey, "this case highlights the dedicated work by the men and women of the Rankin County Sheriff's Office to keep Rankin County a safe place to live, work, and raise a family".

10/13/2026

***Residents along Vine Drive***

The Rankin County Sheriff's Department was recently provided an item of jewelry that was found between Vinter's Crossing and the Vineyard at Castlewoods.

If you have lost an item of jewelry in that area, please contact us at 601-825-1480. Please be ready to show proof of ownership when you come to claim the item.