Viewpoints and Core Values

To the Employees

As Sheriff,

• You can trust that I will have the BEST people in the RIGHT positions to lead.  You will know what is expected, why your particular job is important and I will listen to feedback from you on how it could be done better.
• I will not treat every employee equally.  You are not all equal.  Some of you are worth more, because you produce more.  The key is to treat everyone “fairly”.
• I will recognize outstanding performance and your contributions to the TEAM, because I want that effort repeated.
• I will establish credibility, be true to my word and earn your trust to inspire TEAM unity that is centered around loyalty, communication and transparency.
• I will communicate the good and the bad with you.  I believe the more informed you are the less the rumor mill will poison other minds.  You will not be lied to!
• I will have rules, but I will not have dumb rules.  You will have guidelines and direction, but I will not have dumb rules getting in the way of performing your duty.
• Supervisors will supervise!  Allowing problems/issues to go unchecked is a failure of leadership.  Common sense rules the day.
• I will not tolerate mediocrity.  I want and expect the ‘A’ TEAM to show up every day.  You will be better trained and equipped to perform at a high level.
• I will be consistent in my management style, especially during reward or punishment handed out.  There will be no nepotism or cronyism.  I will be fair across the board.
• I will have an “open” door to all employees.  Whether it’s to visit about a personal matter, complain or file a grievance, I will be available.
• I understand the most valuable assets of this Sheriff’s office is you, the employees!  I will not be a dictator or micromanager.  I will expect our department heads to lead holding true the values of this Office.
• I will encourage we all have fun again.  Police work and maintaining a jail is stressful, at best.  Having a more relaxed and fun workplace creates happy employees who are more productive and look forward to coming to work each day.

Core Values

The election season is upon us, and I am well under way to begin my run for Sheriff of this great County.  I have had the distinct honor and privilege to serve as a Texas Game Warden since 1992, the majority of it in Smith County.  Besides my marriage and the birth of my children, the day I had that blue badge pinned on my chest in Austin, Texas was one of the most memorable days of my life.  When I moved to Smith County, Tyler I had learned many of life’s lessons and was full of enthusiasm to be here.  I was now Smith County’s Game Warden.  I was someone the folks could count on.  I was one that you could depend on to come when needed.   I was one that would respond rather than react.  The folks knew me as fair, but firm enforcing the law.  I took on a role as leader in the community and an educator to the children.  I was driven by a passion to serve.  I served as a peace officer who took a sacred oath to protect and defend the Constitution and uphold the laws of the land.  I wanted the people of this County to feel safe in my presence, because I would defend them from harm and extreme prejudice.  I am a professional in every sense of the word.  I am a person of competence, with a purpose to serve and protect.  Whether it’s arresting the bad guys, assisting other agencies, deploying to the border or working a natural disaster, I have been there and done it.  I have worked as part of a team, shoulder to shoulder with many brother officers from varying agencies.  I will work as your Sheriff with that same tenacity, competence, fairness and team oriented spirit to assure we get the job done to the best of our ability.

One of the biggest issues facing Smith County and police agencies currently, is not drugs, gangs, crimes of violence or budgets.  It’s the erosion of public confidence in our police.  We are under attack! There is rarely a week that goes by that we are not served up with the latest “cops gone wild” video.  Many, with cell phones and some media have seen to it that negative scrutiny of our police is their only mission.  Even when we get it right the large majority of the time, police work is still not pretty to watch.  So what can I do about it?  Under my command, as Sheriff, we will operate as a “team”.  No one person can do it all.  We are stronger when we work together with the faith community, mental health, social services, business owners, community leaders, educators, health workers and others to help make life better for all who live in this County.  I will require our officers to use common sense, with an effort to respond, rather than react.  I will require our front line officers to have better training on how to handle combative or mentally ill persons. Our officers will operate on the belief they are always being recorded.  I will expect others officers to step in and defuse a potential bad situation with a brother officer.  No officer wants to be labeled a “dirty cop” and go to jail.  I will utilize drug seizure monies, private donations, any surplus budget revenue to ensure our deputies have body cams.  I will encourage all of our officers to continue their law enforcement education.  Training is the key to becoming a professional Peace Officer, not just a cop on the beat.  The largest part of the SCSO budget is in the employees.  So, it only makes sense to put money back into the success of your employees.  The best way to assure their success is through training and education.  That translates in to savings for the community, and proficiency for the agency, so it’s money well invested.

United States Constitution

I believe the Sheriff is the last line of defense for the U. S. Constitution.  A Sheriff is the sworn protector.  I believe Federal overreach is occurring all around the country.  By simply saying “no” to Federal laws outside the scope of their constitutionally delegated authority, it is the path to Liberty.  Whether it’s the Federal Government trying to take cattle from a rancher, the EPA attempting to shut down a dairy farm, the IRS targeting, the Branch Davidian Church or Ruby Ridge unconstitutional debacles, I will stand fast  against it!  I will have the courage and the wherewithal to keep my oath of office; to stand for what’s right and to stand for our God-given liberties!  Many Sheriff’s around the country already have. The Texas Constitution contains a provision that proclaims the federal constitution as the Supreme Law of the Land.  Therefore, the Sheriff swears allegiance to the Federal and State Constitutions.  The Sheriff is obligated to protect the law and the security of a free State.  I will see to it that the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (2^nd amendment) remains the Supreme Law of the land.

Facts:  Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith was a BATF agent that went to the Branch Davidian Church in Waco and boasted on a local T.V. station that some good things occurred there during the 51 day siege.  Really?  Four brother BATF agents were killed and 76 followers, including five children under 14 years old.  I question a person who believes some good came from that Janet Reno led inferno.

Facts:  I am endorsed by Sheriff Richard Mack, retired Sheriff of Graham County, Arizona.  Sheriff Mack sued the Clinton administration over the Brady Bill in 1994 and won.  Supreme Court Justice Scalia opined for the majority.  He declared that the States are not subject to Federal direction.

Facts:  I am and will remain objective to ideas and gray/undecided areas of law.  There will be no objectivity with regard to my oath of office and the proper role of all levels of Government, particularly the federal government within local jurisdictions and relative to the people bearing in mind the Bill of Rights to the Constitution that I will be bound by to uphold and defend.

Handling of Mentally Ill Persons

With increasing frequency, law enforcement is called upon to be the first responders to individuals in serious mental health crises.  It is a must that law enforcement officers are trained in understanding and handling mental illness.  There are tactics that are proven to work most effectively.  The goal is to keep the officer safe, the mentally ill person safe, and reduce the liability on the part of the officer and the County.  As Sheriff, I will make sure all of our officers have the training needed to identify various disorders they encounter and how to appropriately handle each.  Our officers will learn to evaluate a person’s intellectual functioning, his/her behavioral reactions and emotional reactions.  Our officers will follow the law, and policy and procedure with these matters, but will also utilize a common sense approach.  Our nation’s system of jail and prisons has now become the largest facility for persons with mental illness.

As Sheriff,

• I will work well with and partner with the Andrews Center and the Forensic Services staff.
• I will utilize the CARE jail match system for current mental health status and meds used.
• I will have Pre and Post Booking strategies in accordance with Jail Standards
• I will create Crisis Intervention teams to identify high risk persons.
• I will have a centralized location for mental health assessments for non-violent offenders.
• I will have a timely screening/assessment process.
• I will develop community support to address housing and other support services.
• I will improve the relationship between law enforcement and mental health professionals.
• I will reduce the criminal recidivism.