Monthly Report for February 2024
Dear Citizens,
Today on March 1st, 35 years ago, I began my law enforcement career at the NCSO as a Detention Officer. I have been fortunate and blessed to not only have had the many opportunities while working towards the top but to have worked next to some of the finest individuals as well. I started in Detention and worked in Patrol, CID, Narcotics and was a long time SWAT officer, Tactical Commander and Crisis Negotiator. I have attended too many schools to mention and through hard work and dedication to this job, have been honored in receiving numerous awards and certifications over my career that I am very proud of. I want to take this opportunity to say what an honor it is and continues to be, serving the citizens as an officer of the Navarro County Sheriff's Office. It's been one heck of a ride.
I also want to recognize Chief Deputy Morris Steward who began his career on the same day. Chief Steward has faithfully and diligently served the citizens also for 35 years while working his way through the ranks of the NCSO to Chief Deputy. I appreciate Chief Steward's friendship and unwavering loyalty to me along with his dedication to the NCSO and the citizens we serve. He's an invaluable friend and member of the NCSO.
This month Chief Deputy Steward and I, along with many other law enforcement professionals from across the metroplex, attended the Regional Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention Symposium in Arlington. We all share the same ongoing issues on recruitment and retention of law enforcement personnel and it was a good opportunity to network with others as we to continue in seeking solutions in a hard to hire country.
On Sunday, February 4th, Deputy Aldo Hernandez conducted a traffic stop in the 1900 Block of Martin Luther King Blvd in Corsicana for an observed traffic violation. During the traffic investigation the driver was found to be wanted on an outstanding parole violation warrant. Further investigation revealed controlled substance (methamphetamine), a non-operational methamphetamine lab along with a pill press. Our criminal investigation division, and the Dallas field division of the DEA, responded to the location to assist with the investigation. The suspect was charged with possession of controlled substance and the outstanding arrest warrant for parole violation was served. Great job Deputy Hernandez.
On Wednesday, February 7th, NCSO deputies recovered a stolen gooseneck trailer near SW 3020 in Purdon. The trailer had previously been reported stolen to the Anderson County Sheriff's Office. NCSO Deputies and Detectives began following up on the case which led to the arrest of two suspects with outstanding felony warrants in Blooming Grove.
On Thursday, February 8th, around 9:24 am NCSO deputies responded to a reported burglary in progress on NW 2085 Corsicana. The homeowner had just arrived home to see a subject wearing a green jacket, blue jeans and a backpack leaving their residence. The homeowner initially questioned the suspect who gave an excuse for his presence before running from the location. Within seven minutes of the initial 9-1-1 call, Deputy Esparza had located and detained the suspect in the 3600 blk of NW 2004. The suspect was initially arrested for burglary of a habitation. Good work Deputy Esparza.
On Saturday, February 10th, there was an enhanced officer presence in the western portion of Navarro County primarily in the Navarro Mills area. Due to an anticipated influx of enhanced traffic flow in the area, additional units from the NCSO and Texas DPS were present to help ensure the safety of persons traveling in the area. As a result of the enhanced officer presence on that day, the following are some combined statistics:
68 - Calls for Service created
82 - Traffic Stops
16 - Arrests
27 - Citations
65 - Warning Citations
02 - Recovered Stolen Vehicles
04 - Evading Arrest
01 - Evading Arrest with a Vehicle
04 - Seized Weapons
05 - Arrest Warrants Served
13 - Narcotics Charges including 32 baggies of Cocaine
02 - Fail to ID Fugitive
04 - Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon
01 - Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle
On Tuesday, February 13th, the NCSO was busy once again in the 3800 block of NW 3110 near Navarro Mills. Two stolen Camaros were recovered at the location as one was reported stolen out of Plano PD and the other was reported stolen out of Denton County.
On Wednesday, February 14th it was de'ja vu as NCSO Detectives were again in the 3800 block of NW 3110 near Navarro Mills. A 2015 Dodge Challenger that was reported stolen out of Ft Worth PD was located and recovered by the NCSO.
On Saturday, February 20th, the NCSO patrol division recovered a stolen 2020 Chevy Tahoe in Emhouse which was confirmed stolen out of Arlington P.D.
On Thursday, February 22nd, at approximately 1:30 am, NCSO Deputy Hernandez located a disoriented 76-year-old female walking on the service road of I-45 near the 220 milepost who had been reported missing by Houston P.D. After obtaining medical attention for the female, Deputy Hernandez located her vehicle in the area parked in standing water over the roadway near Richland Creek on the Northbound service road. Her family in Houston was contacted so they could arrange to be reunited. This was what we absolutely hope for, a positive outcome to what could have easily become a potential tragedy.
On Saturday, February 24th, our NCSO deputies made a surprise visit to a cockfight in progress in the 13000 block of NW 3050 Purdon. The property owner was arrested for cockfighting which is a state jail felony after evidence of a cockfighting operation was observed at the location. A fighting ring, live and deceased birds were present at the location along with other evidence to support cockfighting. The cash prize money $7,731.00 was seized and an asset forfeiture was filed. Several spectators fled the scene as deputies arrived. As of 2021, cockfighting is a crime in every state and 42 states penalize it as a felony. It is illegal to be a spectator at a cockfight and is a class C misdemeanor offense in the state of Texas. We intend to remain diligent in our efforts to locate and stop this cruel and horrible blood sport in Navarro County. Thank you and good job to the deputies and detectives who investigated this incident.
This month we are proud to introduce our newest NCSO correctional officer Telvin Newson. Mr. Newson has 15 years of previous experience with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. We wish him all the best with his new position at the NCSO. We also congratulate Deputy Yakie Ramirez on successfully completing the patrol FTO program and wish Deputy Ramirez the best of luck with her assignment in patrol and look forward to her serving the citizens of Navarro County.
The Sheriff's Office had approximately 2365 calls for service in February and our dispatch received 1536 calls for assistance to 9-1-1. There were approximately 191 persons arrested and booked into the Navarro County Justice Center and the average daily jail population was 230 inmates. Fifteen inmates were transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and two inmates were transferred to State Jail and SAFP Units to serve their sentences.
In February, we estrayed five horses and five estray horses that were taken to the Elkhart Horse Sale and sold for a total of $1,571.50.
We are accepting applications for all divisions and currently have vacancies in detention, dispatch, patrol, courthouse security, administration and the criminal investigation division. Remember the hiring age for dispatch and detention has been lowered to 18 but with all other enforcement positions, you must be 21 or older to apply. As in the past, applications will continue to be taken for any vacancy until the position is filled.
"The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand." - Vince Lombardi
As always, God Bless and be safe,
Sheriff Elmer Tanner
