Monthly Report for November 2015

Dear Citizens,

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving holiday and will enjoy a very Merry Christmas and safe, happy and prosperous New Year. I also want to again say how much I appreciate our veterans for their sacrifice and service as they were honored on Veterans Day.
The Texas Association of Hostage Negotiators hosted the 22nd Annual Southwestern Crisis Negotiations Training Conference this month in Addison. The NCSO negotiations team of Sheriff Tanner, Sgt. Melanie Cagle, Dep. Kris Matthews and Reserve Capt. Lewis Palos attended this valuable training.
NCTCOG 9-1-1 hosted their annual Awards Luncheon on Nov. 12, with 9-1-1 Telecommunicators and Supervisors from across the 9-1-1 Region honored in several categories. Congratulations to our own NCSO dispatcher Myriah Rollins who was an award recipient.
Thank you to the Corsicana Rotary Club for asking me to be the guest speaker this year for the Navarro County Farmer of the Year award ceremony. Congratulations to Steve, Zane and Brandon Nicholson on winning this years award.
On behalf of the NCSO, I would like to thank the children, faculty and staff of Fannin Elementary School for honoring law enforcement and all first responders at the First Responder Jamboree. It was great to see so many dedicated professionals present and we truly enjoyed hearing the children sing and watching the program honoring our service to the community.
Navarro County Commissioners have lifted the burn ban but please continue to use caution with any outdoor fires.
A couple of scams to report: 
We had a report from one of our citizens stating she received a phone call and the caller ID showed the callers number as 903-654-3002 which is the administrative line for NCSO. The caller tried to solicit money by stating that he was a detective at the NCSO and a warrant was about to be obtained for check fraud, deception by fraud and other crimes if she did not send $900 to him through American Cash Advance. The number to call back for questions or information was a 202 area code. Three things I want our citizens to be aware of at this time: If you receive a call from the NCSO, the caller ID will NOT show the number 903-654-3002. The area code 202 is not a local area code and does NOT affiliate to Texas and most importantly, the NCSO does NOT call to warn anyone of a warrant, solicit payment to prevent charges or solicit money. I cannot stress enough, please be cautious and do not fall victim to this or any of the many scams being perpetrated against our citizens. The IRS scam is popular right now as well. The IRS does not call anyone advising to send them money.
Individuals are also calling and portraying themselves as an attorney, clerk of the court or law enforcement claiming that one of your family members has been arrested and they can negotiate or resolve the issue for money. They also tell people not to report this to anyone because it is sensitive or embarrassing. These people prey on the elderly and feed off the information that you give them. They are professional con artists and make a living running scams. Unfortunately this activity will increase during the holiday season. Again I cannot stress enough, do not become a victim. If you are ever in doubt, report suspicious activity to your local law enforcement agency.
On behalf of the Sheriff's Association of Texas, I was proud to present the Sheriff Sonny Sessions Scholarship to Stormi Matthews. Stormi is the daughter of Navarro County Deputy Kris Matthews and his wife Kami. The late Sheriff Sessions was a long tenured Sheriff in Freestone County and was a past president of the Sheriff's Association of Texas. We were honored to have Sheriff Sessions widow, Peggy Sessions Hemby, present for the scholarship award.
Detective Sgt. Kevin Scott has concluded the investigation of an individual using fraudulent information for registration purposes at the Navarro County Tax Assessor/Collectors office. Sgt. Scott was alerted by employees of the tax office of an individual suspected of using or attempting to use fraudulent information to register vehicles. Sgt. Scott was contacted by a courthouse security officer and tax office employee advising that the individual was back at the location attempting to register vehicles once again. Sgt. Scott located the individual and after reviewing documents found in his possession that were allegedly being used or attempted to be used for registering vehicles, he was detained for criminal investigation. Sgt. Scott immediately obtained three felony warrants for fraudulent use/possession of identifying information elderly, tampering with government record, false name or information and forgery for vehicle registration.
I am proud to report that neither Sgt. Joey Jock or his civilian passenger were injured when his patrol vehicle was rear ended on I-45. Sgt. Jock had responded to a call for traffic control assistance by DPS at the 229 milepost of South I-45 when the accident occurred. The emergency lights were activated on the patrol unit and it was occupied when it was struck from behind. The vehicle can be fixed but the lives of our officers are invaluable.
NCSO investigators served numerous arrest warrants on a husband and wife at their residence outside Richland. The suspects were arrested and charged with 10 counts each of possession of child pornography. Child Protective Services was also called to the scene and they removed two small children from the location. Both suspects remain in custody at the Navarro County Justice Center.
The Sheriff's Office had 1,412 calls for service in November and our dispatch received 2,036 calls for assistance to 9-1-1. There were approximately 252 persons arrested and booked into the Navarro County Justice Center in November and the average daily jail population was 217 inmates.
The Narcotics unit arrested eight suspects, filed nine criminal cases and served four outstanding arrest warrants. Nine inmates were transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and 10 other inmates were transferred to State Jail and SAFP units to serve their sentences.
We held our semi-annual departmental firearms qualifications for pistol, shotgun and rifles this month.
We estrayed eight head of cattle and one sheep and transported them to the county farms at Angus and Petty’s Chapel, we sold two estray horses and three estray donkeys at the Elkhart Horse Sale for $193.40 and one sheep at Hubbard Livestock for $99.45. We also collected $740 dollars in estray fees.
We sold 165 rolls of surplus hay from our county farm for $6,600 dollars. All hay that was for sale has been sold and remaining hay will be used to supply our livestock and estray needs.
All divisions of the agency are fully staffed except the patrol division which currently has two vacancies. Applications will continue to be taken for any vacancy until the position is filled.
I am proud to announce along with the support of my wife and family that I have reinforced my commitment to the citizens of Navarro County by filing for re-election this month for Sheriff of Navarro County. I have served the citizens of Navarro County for approximately 27 years with the last three year as your sheriff. 
We have faced many issues together during my tenure as sheriff, including a tragic murder/suicide that resulted in five deaths, wildfires, flooding and many other critical situations. Through each and every situation, I believe I have been there as a leader who is willing to not only take on the challenge, but to also stand alongside the men and women of the NCSO as we work together to forge ahead and overcome each and every one of daily challenges we face.
We have upgraded our facilities and improved every aspect of the NCSO from inmate health care, food service, maintenance, advanced technology and many other changes too numerous to list. Our county jail has passed every inspection by state officials during my tenure as sheriff. We constantly evolve to keep up with the needs of our citizens while taking a proactive approach to law enforcement.
As your sheriff, I have been fiscally responsible to the taxpayers of the county and can proudly report that during my first three years as sheriff, I have saved our taxpayers money by returning over $2.2 million in unused budgeted funds to the county.
I have engaged our citizens in business decisions, kept our citizens informed by attending crime watch meetings, created social media sites to keep citizens informed including the new NCSO website, Facebook page and Twitter feed, my monthly report in the "Dear Citizens" letter, and improved communication and relationships with other local, state and federal agencies.
I would appreciate the opportunity to continue serving you as Sheriff of Navarro County and humbly ask for your continued support and for your vote to re-elect me as your sheriff.
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.” - Helen Keller
As always, God bless and be safe.
Sheriff Elmer Tanner