Dear Citizens,
I am very pleased and proud to announce that once again, for the 8th year in a row since becoming Sheriff, the Navarro County Jail has passed The Texas Commission On Jail Standards annual jail inspection. There is no warning of when an inspection will take place, we only know it will be conducted sometime during the calendar year.
I give credit to all the hard working supervisors and employees of our Detention Division as it is not easy to keep up with the numerous state rules, regulations and state mandates all while trying to maintain a 32-year-old facility. Keeping maintenance and operational costs at a minimum and maintaining an average of 228 prisoners per day and all that goes with, I can assure you, is by no means an easy task. I commend those in my detention staff who continue to work diligently together as a team to maintain the daily operations of the facility. I truly do appreciate and thank each and every one of you for another job well done.
"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." - Phil Jackson. Again, thank you to all the members on my team.
This month I am sharing a few statistics of just some of activity from the NCSO in 2019:
The Sheriff's Office had 38,892 calls for service and our dispatch received 22,936 calls for assistance to 9-1-1.
We performed 1107 arrests, conducted 5,238 traffic stops and our criminal investigative division investigated 818 criminal cases.
We were also issued 3,459 civil papers for service with 2,694 being served and an additional 385 indictments were issued with 332 served.
Our SWAT team responded to two armed barricaded suspect calls in Navarro County, an out of county mutual aid request by Leon County on a barricaded person and an out of county mutual aid request by Freestone County for a high risk narcotics search warrant.
There were 168 hours of in house tactical training along with members attending numerous tactical schools.
There were approximately 2,878 persons arrested and booked into the Navarro County Justice Center and the average daily jail population was 241 inmates during 2019.
The Narcotics Unit arrested 235 State suspects, filed 309 State level criminal cases, two Federal cases and served 151 outstanding arrest warrants. The narcotics unit seized one outdoor marijuana grow, two indoor marijuana grows and seized various other drugs across the county with an approximate street value of $295,079.00. The narcotics unit also filed $50,156.58 in asset seizures.
One hundred ninety-six inmates were transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and 103 other inmates were transferred to State Jail and SAFP Units to serve their sentences in 2019.
We responded to 753 animal complaint calls and 1,684 loose livestock calls. We removed estray livestock on 24 occasions during 2019 ultimately picking up 4 bulls, 24 cows, 6 calves, 30 horses, 8 donkeys, one mule and one goat. The NCSO collected $3,215.00 in estray fees, collected $12,612.17 from the sale of estray livestock and sold $6,332.21 of Navarro County owned livestock.
We conducted 981 prisoner transports, not including courthouse transports. These transports included 620 prisoners, 250 mental and 111 juvenile. The NCSO traveled 137,715 miles conducting these transports.
On Thursday, January 2nd the NCSO responded to a suicidal person call on FM 744 Corsicana. I am very glad to report that thanks to the combined efforts of numerous law enforcement agencies, Corsicana Fire Rescue personnel and equipment, the suicidal suspect in the 5500 block of FM 744 was taken into custody without incident. Thanks to the combined agency efforts of the NCSO along with their crisis negotiations unit, Texas DPS, Texas Game Warden, Dawson PD and CFD personnel we were able to peacefully negotiate and safely resolve this suicidal person situation. I want to say how much I appreciate and thank you all for your professionalism and dedication to duty which is always key in helping to resolve a critical incident such as this.
On Friday, January 3rd Scott Wiley, an employee of Navarro County Planning and Development, concluded his 30 years of employment with Navarro County. We were proud to honor Scott with a plaque honoring his prior 25 years of service at the NCSO before transferring to planning and development. We thank Scott for his years of dedicated service to the citizens of Navarro County and wish him all the best in his retirement.
I also want to say a heartfelt thank you to Pastor Rick Lamb who had advised me last month that he was resigning from NCSO chaplain. Pastor Rick has been a departmental chaplain for the NCSO the past 13 years. Pastor Rick informed me that due to increased family responsibility, he would no longer be able to fulfill this role for the NCSO. We appreciate him volunteering his time for our agency and its members and we wish him and his family all the best in the future.
Thank you Dr. Kevin Fegan and the Navarro College Corsicana Campus for requesting me to instruct the Recognition and Response to Active Shooter class. Over 200 people were in attendance as part of the employee in service training conducted on Friday, January 3rd at the Navarro College Campus. I appreciate the opportunity to put on this impactful training for our community and it is my sincere hope that it will never be needed.
On Tuesday, January 7th, the NCSO responded to a homicide scene in the 5600 Block of SE 2010 Mildred. The homicide suspect was taken into custody at the location and murder charges have been filed.
In recognition of National Law Enforcement Day Thursday, January 9th, thank you to all those who answer the call. Thank you for 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. Many of those have little to no concern, care or respect, but yet the men and women who swore to protect and serve do just that. Regardless.
Thank you for giving up holidays, birthdays and family gatherings, missing your child's school events and sports games because when duty calls, you drop everything and respond. Thank you for giving up on so much of your family life to serve the many who depend on you. Thank you to those countless families for the sacrifices you must make daily as well. You also are appreciated for understanding the dedication and calling.
Even when not in uniform or on duty, officers put others' lives and safety before their own no matter where or when. Every time they walk out the door, they know there is no guarantee of a return home, yet they still answer the call and for little pay, little respect and most days with little to no gratitude and appreciation. Most importantly, thank you for doing a job most wouldn't do. It takes a special individual. One who is selfless, caring, strong, courageous, sacrificing beyond comprehension, dealing with day in and day out, especially in our current climate, with the things most of us would refuse to.
Quick, split second decisions must be made in life or death situations many times. There is never a guarantee that their decision in that exact second is the is right one but they still show up, suit up, put on the vest and take the hits, the hate, the criticism and abuse to be there in a moment's notice no matter the danger or sacrifice. No matter who is in need. Thank you, always stay safe and God Bless.
On Monday, January 13th about 2:30 p.m., the NCSO Narcotics Unit observed a wanted subject with an active parole violation warrant at a residence in the 1000 Block of W. 5th Ave. near the Corsicana ISD Drane Learning Center campus. As deputies attempted to approach the subject, he fled from Deputies outside the residence. The Deputies pursued the fugitive and caught him after he entered the residence and was attempting to discard narcotic evidence. The subject was taken into custody.
Officers secured the location pursuant to obtaining a search warrant for the residence. During the execution of the search warrant, Deputies located assorted drug paraphernalia, empty baggies for distribution, digital scales, and multiple baggies containing methamphetamine. The subject was transported to the NCSO Justice Center where he was charged with Man/Del CS PG 1 > 1g < 4g Drug Free Zone, Evading Arrest Detention and the Parole Violation warrant. The residence was within 1000 feet from Corsicana ISD Drane Learning Center campus which is a Drug Free Zone. I am very proud of our officers and the job they do in continually working to take these drugs off the streets and keep them out of Navarro County.
SCAM ALERT: We received numerous calls last month that someone was making random phone calls throughout the county identifying himself as Navarro County Sheriff's Office Detective Brooks. The scammer states that unless a specific amount of money is wired immediately a warrant will be issued and the victim would be arrested. The phone number for the caller was reported as 903-486-3315. This was a SCAM. We DO NOT have a Detective Brooks and the number given IS NOT an NCSO number. Again, I cannot stress enough, please do not become a victim of these scammers. Always call, verify and make sure to report any and all suspicious activity to your local law enforcement. The NCSO does not call to solicit money.
On Thursday, January 23rd the Navarro County Sheriff's Office responded to a mutual aid request for assistance from Limestone County Sheriff Dennis Wilson. The Navarro County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team executed a high risk narcotics search warrant for the Limestone County Sheriff's Office at a residence on LCR 470 Mexia. As a result of the search warrant, two suspects were taken into custody without incident and a large quantity of Methamphetamine was seized. We are always happy to answer the call when needed to assist our fellow law enforcement agencies and we congratulate the Limestone County Sheriff's Office on the success of their narcotics operation.
On Wednesday, January 22nd Texas Department of Public Safety, Criminal Investigations Division in partnership with the Navarro County Sheriff's Office, conducted a compliance operation of 25 registered sex offenders throughout Navarro County. During the compliance operation, three sex offenders were found to be non-compliant. Two of the three non-compliant subjects also had parole warrants for their arrest. DPS Special Agents and Navarro County Sheriff's Office detectives obtained a felony warrant for failure to comply with sex offender requirements for all three individuals. One of the three suspects was taken into custody on the warrants by NCSO deputies on 1/23/2020. The other two individuals are currently being sought by law enforcement.
On Monday, January 27th Corporal Shane Richards conducted a traffic stop for an observed traffic violation at North 23rd and West Park in Corsicana. The vehicle came to a stop and the driver immediately evaded on foot. Cpl. Richards caught the suspect a couple of blocks away from the traffic stop location. The suspect had also attempted to discard narcotics while evading. The suspect was arrested and charged with evading arrest with previous conviction, possession of a controlled substance under a gram, tampering with physical evidence and possession of marijuana under 2 oz. We appreciate the assistance of the Corsicana Police Department and other agencies who immediately responded to assist.
The Sheriff's Office had approximately 2821 calls for service in January and our Dispatch received approximately 1688 calls for assistance to 9-1-1. There were approximately 223 persons arrested and booked into the Navarro County Justice Center and the average daily jail population was 234 inmates. The Narcotics Unit arrested 11 suspects, filed 6 criminal cases and served 10 outstanding arrest warrants. Eleven inmates were transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and 7 other inmates were transferred to State Jail and SAFP Units to serve their sentences.
This month we estrayed three donkeys, and 1 pig and hauled them to our county farm at Petty's Chapel. We also sold three estray horses at Elkhart Horse Sale for $489.00.
Congratulations to Sonia Rivera who was promoted this month to Corporal in Detention at the NCSO today. Best of luck in your new position.
We are currently accepting applications for vacancies in communications, detention and administration divisions. As in the past, applications will continue to be taken for any vacancy until the position is filled.
"Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity." -Roy T. Bennett
As always, God bless and be safe
Sheriff Elmer Tanner