Last night as families spent Christmas Eve together and anxiously awaited Christmas Day, I was with many of my officers together but we were not at a party. We responded to a man armed with a shotgun threatening suicide who had barricaded himself inside a residence in Purdon. As I was driving to the location, I thought of my officers safety on this Christmas and also that of the suspects. How horrible it would be for him to take one of our lives or his own on Christmas and how it would impact his and our families. We later learned that alleged family violence against a little girl had also occurred. We were finally able to negotiate a peaceful surrender and resolve this situation without injury or incident. 
I want to take this opportunity to thank Chief Deputy Morris Steward, Captains Stan Farmer and Jeramy Phillips, Sergeants Joey Jock and Melanie Cagle along with Deputies Danny Book and Kris Matthews, the Texas State Troopers who arrived for support and our amazing NCSO dispatchers. Grateful that we were all able to once again see and celebrate with our families the birth of our Lord and Savior.
Merry Christmas to all and God Bless.

Sheriff Elmer Tanner