Department of Public Safety

Administration

On April 1, 1938, Senate Bill 161 was signed into law by Governor Hugh L. White creating the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol. According to law, the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol shall operate under the supervision of the Commissioner of Public Safety. While the years since the beginning have brought on additional responsibilities and roles, the core foundation of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety remains ensuring the safety of the public.

CONTACT

Mississippi Department of Public Safety
P.O. Box 958
Jackson, MS 39205

601-987-1212

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ABOUT

Mission

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety (MDPS) has over 1,000 sworn and non-sworn employees dedicated to the safety of our fellow Mississippians. Each day, MDPS employees help make Mississippi a safer place by patrolling its roads and highways, keeping drugs off the streets and by providing training, certification and support to law enforcement agencies across the state. Additional services include issuing driver licenses, conducting forensic analysis and investigations, criminal investigations, administering federally funded programs and Homeland Security. With a such diverse array of functions, we are committed daily to improving the quality of life in Mississippi.

Administration

The Commissioner of Public Safety, who is appointed by the Governor, is the chief administrator of the agency. Under the Commissioner’s oversight are the following MDPS divisions: Crime Stoppers, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers’ Training Academy, Office of Forensic Laboratories (Mississippi Crime Laboratory and State Medical Examiner’s Office), Office of Homeland Security, Office of Support Services and Public Safety Planning (Board of Emergency Telecommunications, Board on Law Enforcement Standards and Training, Council on Aging, County Jail Officer Standards and Training Board, Juvenile Facility Monitoring Unit, and Office of Highway Safety).