Monthly Report for November 2016

Dear Citizens,

We at the NCSO hope that everyone had a fun and safe Halloween.

Please remember that Navarro County is now under a burn ban until further notice.

This month the North Texas Council of Governments presented a plaque to the NCSO for their assistance, support and collaboration over the past 25 years for the NCTCOG 9-1-1 program.

This year was another great turnout and success for the Kerens Cotton Festival. I appreciate all my deputies for helping with different areas of the festival and celebration. My wife and I once again enjoyed visiting with old and new friends, stopping by the many booths and enjoying some of the great food.

We participated in numerous events during the month of November. Sgt. Melanie Cagle, Deputy Eric Wilson and myself, took part in the National Night Out celebration in Corsicana. We participated in the Fall Festival at Shulmans Movie Theatre with the assistance of Sgt. Melanie Cagle, Pshaun Martin and Tammy Sloan and Navarro College's Career Expo was also a success and I would like to thank our officers who participated and all the students who stopped by to visit. We hope those who showed interest, choose a law enforcement career and join our team at NCSO.

I want to personally thank Gary Gober Go-Co Trucking, Kenny Brown of K & S Tire and Towing, Mickey Hillock of Mickeys Exxon and Wendy's, and Tom Johnson of Johnson Oil Company who all made generous contributions toward the purchase of new departmental weapons for the NCSO. Your support and this financial assistance is very much appreciated.

The NCSO tactical unit took delivery of their new 3m gas masks. These new masks are a tremendous upgrade and resolve safety concerns while adapting to our communication headsets. We were able to trade the old outdated masks in on the new and improved.

The NCSO has now introduced the newest less lethal option into our force continuum being the JPX Centurion LE pepper gun. We have developed new departmental policies and procedures for the weapon and its use. We have already held instructor training and have trained our officers that now have been issued the weapon.

We purchased a new inmate video visitation system at the cost of $30,980 along with two 70 pound capacity washer extractors, two 75 pound capacity drying tumblers at the cost of $26,300. These items were purchased through the inmate commissary account at NO cost to the taxpaying citizens.

Congratulations to Lieutenant Gail Hurley who was promoted Oct. 1 from Administrative Sergeant to Administrative Lieutenant. Lt. Hurley has been full time with the NCSO for 15 years and was a reserve Deputy for 3 years before becoming full time. Lt. Hurley has served as a detention officer, patrol deputy, civil deputy and administrative Sergeant. Lt. Hurley will supervise administration, civil, warrants, evidence technician and court bailiffs.

I'd like to congratulate the following Deputies who received promotions or new appointments on November 1. Deputy Kris Matthews promoted to Patrol Sergeant, Deputy Tyrone Martin promoted to Patrol Corporal, Deputy Brandon Bates transferred from Civil Division and was promoted to Patrol Corporal, Deputy Shane Richards promoted to Patrol Corporal, Deputy Keith Lewis (not pictured) promoted to Patrol Corporal, Deputy Caleb Loftis appointed to the crisis negotiation unit (CNU).

Thank you Susan Johnson and the CISD for taking the time to write a recognition letter for Deputy William Grigsby for assisting with a stranded out of district school bus that was traveling to a Corsicana sports event. We are proud of him and very glad that this situation was resolved safely. It is always refreshing and a morale booster to hear compliments about our officers.

This month our NCSO Facebook page reached over 9,000 likes. I would like to again 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.

We were extremely grateful and felt honored to have received a delivery of 145 gift bags from the Mildred High School Student Council, National Honor Society and Mr. Rick Rash's classes. A huge thank you to not only all those mentioned above but to Gwen McCluney and the whole Mildred School Community for your time and for showing all our officers your support and appreciation for the job we do.

In October, we proudly celebrated Pink Out Friday at the NCSO. This cause is near and dear to my heart as my wife Mandy was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2004. I am proud to say she is an 11 year survivor.

I would like to recognize Navarro County dispatch Corporal Esther Avery and Michelle Smith for a job well done during a 9-1-1 reported kidnapping that occurred in the Emhouse area and later resulted in an arrest on NW 0150. We also recognize Deputy Espinoza, Rice PD, and all responding units for a job well done.

The Navarro County Sheriff’s Office currently has hay for sale. The hay is a mix of coastal, and Johnson grass that was recently baled at our Petty's Chapel farm. The hay is 4 x 6 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.

The Sheriff's Office had 3,698 calls for service in October and our dispatch received 2,546 calls for assistance to 9-1-1. There were approximately 292 persons arrested and booked into the Navarro County Justice Center in October and the average daily jail population was 226 inmates. The Narcotics Unit arrested ten suspects, filed six criminal cases and served seven outstanding arrest warrants. Eleven inmates were transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and 14 other inmates were transferred to State Jail and SAFP units to serve their sentences.

This month we estrayed two horses and transported them to the county farm in Angus. We sold one horse, six donkeys, and one cow that had been previously estrayed at Hubbard Livestock Auction for $1,314.18 and we also collected $155.00 in estray fees this month. We sold calves from our county farm at Angus at the Corsicana Livestock Auction for $2,267.43.

We had three resignations and one separation of service this month. We welcomed Sarah Lane back to the NCSO communications division on November 1 and also welcomed Dion Cardwell as our newest employee to the Detention Division. We currently have two vacancies in detention and one civil deputy position available. As in the past, applications will continue to be taken for any vacancy until the position is filled.

Remember this Veteran's Day, we honor those who have so bravely served this country.

America is founded on the principle of freedom, justice, and liberty for all. Our nation's soldiers serve every day to protect our country and its ideals. I hope on Veteran's Day you take a moment to remember all those who have and all those who still do, sacrifice their lives every moment to achieve peace and democracy. Just as one day designated on the calendar shouldn't be the only day we fondly reflect upon the women and men who have died for our freedom, Thanksgiving shouldn’t be the lone day of the year where we remember to appreciate and be grateful for our freedoms, our jobs, our family and friends. I hope this Thanksgiving we not only take the time to be thankful, but also let it be a time to be thoughtful about those around us every day that we too often take for granted and too often ignore.

"The real opportunity for success lies within the person and not in the job” – Zig Ziglar

As always, God bless and be safe.

Sheriff Elmer Tanner