Monthly Report for December 2017

Dear Citizens,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week spending time with family, friends enjoying good food and reflected on the many blessings over the year.

It was with a sad and heavy heart we received the news of the senseless and horrific killing of DPS Trooper Damon Allen. Our thoughts and prayers are with Trooper Allen’s wife and children, his loved ones and his DPS family. We are thankful for the knowledge, strength, courage and professionalism displayed by many of the law enforcement agencies across Texas who came together as one to locate and apprehend this fugitive from justice without further injury or loss of life on Thanksgiving night.

The NCSO assisted Freestone and Limestone counties with their operations during Trooper Allen’s funeral so their officers who worked with Trooper Allen daily, could pay their respects.

This month our page reached over 11,000 likes. I would like to thank you, the citizens, for your continued support. It is important to me and to the NCSO to keep the community informed and up to date as much as possible on what is taking place in our county. By liking our page and sharing informative posts such as asking for information on identifying suspects in thefts, burglaries or other crimes, YOU are supporting and assisting us in making a difference and taking steps in improving the safety in the place in which you live, where you work, play and raise your families. Communication through social media is a powerful tool when utilized properly. And you the citizens are an intricate part of that. Again, thank you for your continued support, kind words, encouragement and helping our agency help the community in which we all call home.

Lieutenant Cagle, Sergeant Matthews and I attended the Annual Crisis Negotiators Conference this month where we received 36 hours of continuing education and also recertification as a Crisis Negotiator in Texas.

This month we held our semi-annual firearms qualification. The State requires agencies to conduct an annual firearms qualification with a minimum of 70% proficiency but we require semi-annual firearms qualification with a minimum of 80% proficiency.

The NCSO raided an illegal cockfighting operation on NW 0185 in Rice. Our patrol division observed numerous deceased birds and cockfighting paraphernalia at the scene during the criminal investigation. The property owner was taken into custody for animal cruelty. A cockfighting operation was raided at the same location years ago by the NCSO and the suspect had been arrested previously for cockfighting in Navarro County but at another location.

The Navarro County Sheriff’s Office currently has hay for sale. The hay is a mix of coastal, rye grass and Johnson grass that was recently baled at our Petty's Chapel farm. The hay is 4x6 net wrapped round bale hay. The price is $40 per roll with a ten roll minimum purchase. Loading is available. Contact Captain Jeramy Phillips at 903-654-3002 to purchase yours today.

The Sheriff's Office had approximately 3,118 calls for service in November and our Dispatch received 2,029 calls for assistance to 9-1-1.

There were approximately 275 persons arrested and booked into the Navarro County Justice Center and the average daily jail population was 241 inmates. The Narcotics Unit arrested ten suspects, filed five criminal cases and served 19 outstanding arrest warrants. Twenty inmates were transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and 13 other inmates were transferred to State Jail and SAFP units to serve their sentences. This month we estrayed nine horses and transported them to the county farm. We also recovered $605 in estray fees this month.

This month we welcomed Daniel Brown and April Martin as our newest detention officers.

We are currently accepting applications for dispatch, detention, patrol, courthouse security and we also have an Information Technology Specialist position available. As in the past, applications will continue to be taken for any vacancy until the position is filled.

We here at the NCSO want to wish everyone a peaceful, blessed and joyous Christmas holiday season as you celebrate with family and friends.

"The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing others' loads and replacing empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of the holidays."
-W.C. Jones

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and as always, God bless and be safe.

Sheriff Elmer Tanner