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Tyler County Booster - Local News
Stories Added - January 2010
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Sheriff's Corner - January 7, 2010
Tyler County Booster - January 2010
by Tyler County Sheriff David Hennigan
As many of you who have paid attention
to the goings-on surrounding Tyler County law enforcement, you know we have seen some interesting activity and significant events during the last year. Due to the downturn in our nation’s economy, there has been a definite upturn in crime. Our Office has seen an almost 25 percent increase in call volume in the past year, and I can unequivocally say that your Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Dispatchers have truly “stepped up to the plate.” I have expressed my personal gratitude to my personnel for a “JOB WELL DONE!” and I hope when you see them, you will let them know the same.
The Good, Bad and Ugly
Now that I have been in Office for a full year, I can tell you the past year has been a true learning experience. “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” are words that come to mind. “The Good” would be the majority of honest, law-abiding Tyler County citizens with their support of our efforts, my deputies and staff, and some of the excellent work that has been done in solving what I know to be a record-breaking year in crimes committed in this county. “The Bad” would be the deaths of two Tyler County citizens
involving the Sheriff’s Office (one accidental, one intentional). While there was absolutely no wrongdoing on the part of our Office in either case, it has been a first in the history of the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office, and our prayers go out to the families involved. As for “The Ugly”, I’ll have to call it my education and introduction into the world of politics. Already this past year, I have had one of my former backers from the 2008 elections inform me he was pulling his support because I would not give in to his requests, in other words, I would not “play politics” with him.
On January 1st of last year, I swore to an “Oath of Office.”
Nowhere in my Oath of Office did it say I had to return favors or show favoritism, because in my book, that is “playing politics.” Instead, my oath was to uphold the Constitution of the United States, the laws of the State of Texas, and to protect and serve the citizens of Tyler County, which is exactly what I will do to the best of my ability.
Agencies Rescue Lost Girl
Finally, recent activity has only reinforced what I have been saying this entire year about the quality of people we have here, both law enforcement and the volunteer citizens who serve Tyler County. This past Sunday night was another example, as personnel from the Sheriff’s Posse, the local Texas Department of Criminal Justice (Gib Lewis Unit) and the Sheriff’s Office, successfully worked together in a search-and-rescue effort, returning a lost 13-year old girl to her family near Doucette.
Officers Apprehend Liberty County Murder Suspect
A week prior to the rescue, Deputies Jerry Laurent and Tony Reynolds, DPS Troopers Buck Odom and Becky Gentry, and Woodville PD Officer Jathan Borel successfully
apprehended a Liberty County capital murder suspect just north of Woodville on US 69. Special thanks goes to DPS Sgt. Steve Holloway for his guidance in assuring that the officers involved in the apprehension waited for appropriate backup before effecting the arrest.
A statement made by the suspect after his arrest of “when I saw you (Deputy Laurent) turn around to get behind me, I loaded a clip” shows what his intentions were, and is proof positive of the excellent communication and working relationship the law enforcement personnel have within our county. The suspect, a professed member of the Aryan Brotherhood, also made the statement that when he saw all of the officers “were white,” he had decided to give up. Truth be known, when he saw five officers with 5 shotguns trained on him, he decided to save his fight for another day, because there is no way possible the suspect could have seen at one o’clock in the morning with brilliant takedown lights in his eyes, the color of each individual officer. That fact leads back to my earlier comment on the excellent working relationship we in Tyler County have between all of our law enforcement agencies and officers.
Thank you for your support of our efforts over the past year, and may the New Year bring God’s blessing to your home, family and friends. |
