Monthly Report January 2026
Dear Citizens,
I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the outstanding service of our dispatchers, the continued commitment of our correctional officers and last but not least, our patrol division's dedication to duty while responding to calls and prioritizing citizen safety despite hazardous conditions during the recent winter storm.
Yes, it is their job and we continue to provide service and protection at all times, regardless of weather or what is deemed hazardous. Our dispatchers take on a much higher call volume 24/7 with all the inclement weather challenges, prisoners must be guarded, meals and routines continued without interruption for the correction officers and patrol must continue answering not just the regular calls but an excessive number of weather-related emergencies while braving the elements and ensuring public safety forever how long the unfavorable conditions may last. Night and day.
I am appreciative of their hard work. Their dedication and devotion to our community are highly valued.
In January, we held retirement celebrations for officers Debra Kelley, Rick Jamison, Jim Carroll and Michael Wafford. Mrs. Kelley served our citizens for approximately 10 years as both a correctional officer and administrative officer and Rick Jamison had approximately 20 years in law enforcement, served our citizens as a correctional officer and a patrol officer for approximately 15 years here with the NCSO. Jim Carroll served our citizens for approximately 34 years as both a correctional officer and a deputy at the NCSO and Michael Wafford served our citizens for 10 years as a correctional officer assigned to inmate transport. We wish them all the very best; to enjoy their retirement and we again thank them for their dedicated years of service.
Congratulations to Deputy Alysia Brown on successfully completing the patrol FTO program. We wish her all the best with her new assignment in patrol and look forward to her serving the citizens of Navarro County. Congratulations was in order to NCSO Deputy Antonio Gutierrez on graduating from the Navarro College Police Academy. Deputy Gutierrez has already passed the State Peace Officers exam and is ready for whatever is the next step in his career. All the best to Anthony with his future endeavors at the NCSO and look forward to his protecting and serving our citizens. We want to wish all the police academy graduates of BPOC #134 the very best in their future plans as well.
January 9th was recognized as Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and I'd like to thank all those who answer the call. Thank you doesn't seem enough for always putting your community and those in it above many things when the need arises. Officers put their lives on the line every day to protect many they do not even know and many of those have little to no concern, care or respect, but yet the men and women who swore to protect and serve? They do just that. Regardless. It's not easy giving up holidays, birthdays and family gatherings, missing your child's school events and sports games but when duty calls, you must drop everything and respond.
So, thank you for giving up on so much of your family life to serve the many who depend on you and thank you to those countless families for the sacrifices you must also make on a daily basis as well. You are also appreciated for understanding the dedication and calling but most importantly, thank you for doing a job rhetorical majority wouldn't do especially in these current times.
The Sheriff's Office had approximately 2,290 calls for service in January and our dispatch received 1,428 calls for assistance to 9-1-1. There were approximately 135 persons arrested and booked into the Navarro County Justice Center and the average daily jail population was 203 inmates. Eight inmates were transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and eight inmates were transferred to State Jail and SAFP Units to serve their sentences.
In January, we estrayed one bull, seven calves, one horse and all were hauled to our county farms. We collected $1,505 in estray fees from owners who reclaimed their estray livestock.
We are accepting applications for all divisions and currently have vacancies in administration, detention, dispatch, patrol, courthouse security and the criminal investigation division. 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.
"You are free to make whatever choice you want, but you are not free from the consequences of that choice." - Zig Ziglar
As always, God Bless and be safe,
Sheriff Elmer Tanner