Accreditation / Training

Lt. Erik Shirley began his law enforcement career with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, Alabama, in 2002. After working with the SCSO for three years, until 2005, he made the career decision to apply with the Meridian Police Department. Lt. Shirley was hired and worked until 2015.  While at MPD he advanced to shift sergeant and worked as an instructor at the training facility.

In 2017, Lt. Shirley was hired by the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office where he has worked patrol, been a School Resource Officer, and filled various law enforcement training roles. Lt. Shirley also takes the opportunity to travel the state training other agencies in how to respond to active shooter events.

Lt. Shirley has recently accepted the challenge of Lieutenant for Training with the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office where he will continue to lead in educating law enforcement officers with the agency.

" Lt. Andy "SKI" Matuszewski has been involved in the emergency service field as a first responder since 1988 making the transition to Law Enforcement from the Fire / EMS role in 1994 with his hiring at the Meridian MS Police Department.  He came on board with the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office as former Sheriff William D. "Billy" Sollie's initial new hire shortly after he took office in January of 1996.  He currently operates as the Accreditation Manager, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program Manager, SWAT Crisis Negotiator, Legislative Liaison & Special Projects Manager.  He also taught entry level law enforcement students on the staff of the East Mississippi Public Safety Institute in general Law Enforcement topics with a focus on CIT, ethics, biased based policing & cultural diversity for over a dozen years.  Lt. Matuszewski additionally serves as the President of the Mississippi Division of the Southern States Police Benevolent Assn. where he furthers the interests of some 4800 Law Enforcement Officers at the local, state & federal level. His involvement with this association dates to 1997. 

Previously, Lt. Matuszewski served internationally with the US State Department's International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Bureau on the Police training mission to Iraq ending his time there as the Operations Manager. He continued his overseas service with an assignment to the United Nations Mission to Kosovo (UNMIK) where he served in a dual capacity as a Deputy Regional Contingent Commander as well as the Administrative Chief of the Special Operations Unit.

In 2012, Lt. Matuszewski became one of the first CIT Trainers certified in Mississippi. He was part of the initial team that led to the creation of the East Mississippi CIT program, which has since become the training site for many other programs in the region. He continues to teach at the CIT courses held in the East MS region and now also travels extensively to assist other CIT programs grow & flourish.  The overseas experiences, along with his time domestically in law enforcement, and his passion for CIT led Lt. Matuszewski to the Mississippi Law Enforcement Alliance on Peer Support. He became a member in 2021 where he now combines his love for his fellow officers as well as his background in CIT to better serve the Law Enforcement profession which in turn serves our community at a high level.  He also volunteers his time as a member of the Board of Directors for CIT International."