Dan Aykroyd: A new sheriff in Mississippi? Really.

Aykroyd is now a Miss. reserve deputy

Hinds County Sheriff Tyrone Lewis has a new reserve deputy: actor Dan Aykroyd.

In a Friday afternoon ceremony, Lewis swore in Aykroyd as the newest addition to his department's reserve squad.

Lewis said Aykroyd submitted a letter of request to join the reserve unit.

Aykroyd is in Mississippi as part of the cast of "Get On Up," a movie about soul singer James Brown.

The Clarion-Ledger reports that Aykroyd said being a part of the department roster will give him a reason to come back to Mississippi.

"My family fell in love with this state on the last trip down here," he said, adding that his wife is from Tennessee and Virginia and feels a Southern kinship with Mississippians. His daughter, a correspondent on Bluesmobile Radio, has been all over the state interviewing its residents.

Aykroyd also said he wants to work to bring more attention to the needs of law enforcement agencies.

"A lot of departments can't even afford ammunition for practice; it's that kind of tiny little challenge that you never think of," he said. "We're going to be aware of that and aware of maybe doing some programs and some fundraisers to supplement the resources of the department here."

In "Get On Up," Aykroyd plays Ben Bart, the president of Universal Attractions, who was James Brown's manager for four decades. The movie is expected to premier Oct. 17.

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Information from: Mississippi Business Journal, http://www.msbusiness.com

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