Monthly Report for May 2016

Dear Citizens,

This month, we remember several significant events.

National Correctional Officers Week:
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5187, creating "National Correctional Officers’ Week." Each year, the first full week in May is recognized as National Correctional Officers and Employees Week, commemorating the contributions of correctional officers and personnel who work in jails, prisons, and community corrections across the country. The services provided by these dedicated and hard working men and women of corrections, are vital to every community. I myself would like to thank and recognize the families of these correctional officers as well. These men and women are husbands, wives, mothers and fathers who often have to miss many school activities, holidays, weekends, other events and special moments with their families because of the job they perform. Please join me in thanking our correctional officers for their dedication, commitment to our community and to the duties they perform on a daily basis.

National Police Week:
In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th falls, as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.
We had a Police Memorial Day Ceremony on Friday, May 20th at the Corsicana Public Library. Thank you to the citizens who joined us as we not only acknowledged those who protect and serve every minute of every day but also honored the courageous officers who devoted themselves so fully to others, that in the process, they laid down their lives.
"Greater love has no one than this, to lay down ones life for one's friends. " - John 15:13

Memorial Day:
We would like to thank the citizens of Blooming Grove and Mayor Gary "Yig" Patterson for inviting us to take part in their Annual Memorial Day Parade as well as feeding all the officers lunch who took part at the BG Lion's Den.
Later that day, I along with Captain Jeramy Philips and Sergeant Jeff Harbuck, were presented with a plaque in gratitude for protecting the community and its citizens.
On Memorial Day, the Sheriff's Department Honor and Color Guards took part in three separate Memorial Day events. The Kerens Veterans Memorial Dedication, Woodland Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony and the Medal of Honor Ceremony for Candelario "Spider" Garcia. We are extremely proud of the men and women who make up our Honor and Color Guards for their time and dedication to this detail.

The 30th Annual Jail Conference was held in in Austin where I, along with Captain Charlie York, Lieutenant Rachaun Ballard, Alan Vitters, Traci Cardwell, Rachel Miller and Mark Edwards, attended training sessions and received up to date information on the current topics we are faced with daily in the jail.

Sergeants Kevin Scott and Ricky Ragan attended Smartphone Forensics and Cellular Certification School at the Plano/Richardson training center. These officers are now trained in the proper procedure for conducting forensic cell phone analysis.

Telecommunications officers Tammy Sloan and Pshaun Martin, proudly represented the N.C.S.O. at the Mildred Elementary Career Fair. The officers had a great time being with the kids and we would like to thank Mildred ISD for inviting us to participate.

Once again, it was that time of year where numerous reports were received of an I.R.S. scam. Again, the I.R.S. does not call and threaten you with a law suit nor do they threaten an arrest warrant by the Sheriff’s Office unless you send money. Also, phone scams were being reported about home computers allegedly being hacked and the homeowner being asked to purchase their home protection plans. I cannot stress enough to please be aware and NEVER give out your personal information. DO NOT become a victim.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Chief Rhonda Davis and the members of the Corsicana Emergency Corp for selecting me as a recipient of the James Sykes Award at the Annual CEC banquet. I was very humbled as Mr. Sykes was a fine man, dedicated public servant and a good friend. I consider it quite an honor to receive this award and again am very grateful to you all.

Thanks to observant citizens, surveillance video and good police work by both C.P.D. Officers and Detectives of the N.C.S.O., a suspect was arrested in a crime spree that spanned through Corsicana and into the Hickory Hollow edition of the county.
The suspect allegedly stole a vehicle in the city, committed burglary of a motor vehicle, and at least attempted two residential burglaries in the Hickory Hollow area before allegedly setting the stolen vehicle on fire. The suspect was arrested by C.P.D. officer Dunagan after responding to a suspicious person call in the North end of the city. The suspect was later linked by evidence to those early morning crimes. The suspect remains in custody at the Navarro County Justice Center with multiple charges.

An arrest has been made in the Mildred Youth Football /Cheerleading Association investigation. One suspect was arrested for Misapplication of Fiduciary Property which is a State Jail Felony offense. The investigation revealed over $ 18,800 dollars was missing from the account beginning in 2013 and ending in 2016.

Deputy Tyrone Martin engaged in a vehicle pursuit that eventually ended in Dallas. Deputy Martin had just finished patrolling the Northbound rest area of IH 45 at the 218 milepost when he observed a vehicle approaching at an apparent high rate of speed just as he merged onto the interstate Northbound in the construction area. Deputy Martin performed a radar check of the suspect vehicle speed and then attempted to perform a traffic stop of the suspect vehicle for speeding. Deputy Martin initiated his emergency lights at the 219 milepost and the vehicle failed to stop. Deputy Martin checked in pursuit at the 224 milepost and he observed the suspect driving very irratic and dangerously sometimes at speeds of 100 mph as he continued North on IH 45 toward Dallas.
We want to thank the law enforcement agencies who assisted in the pursuit including Ellis County S.O., Ennis P.D., Texas Department of Public Safety and Dallas P. D. The suspect finally stopped at Lemon Avenue and Lomo Alto in Dallas where he was arrested by Deputy William Grigsby and Sgt. Todd Henkel and later charged with felony evading arrest. The suspect was transported back to Navarro County and placed into the Navarro County Justice Center. We can thankfully report that no citizens or officers were injured as a result of this incident.

The N.C.S.O. Narcotics unit made several narcotic arrests during the month including the seizure of over 4 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, baggies and suspected drug records after responding to a narcotics complaint in the 900 block of S 31st Corsicana. The location was also within a drug free zone being Natures Park. One suspect was arrested at the location on an outstanding arrest warrant for revocation probation and one suspect was arrested and charged with methamphetamine possession.

The Sheriff's Office had 1,553 calls for service in May and our dispatch received 2,093 calls for assistance to 9-1-1. There were approximately 273 persons arrested and booked into the Navarro County Justice Center in May and the average daily jail population was 224 inmates. The Narcotics unit arrested eleven suspects, filed twelve criminal cases and served three outstanding arrest warrants. Nine inmates were transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and seven other inmates were transferred to State Jail and SAFP units to serve their sentences.

In May we estrayed 12 head of cows, two bulls, 4 calves, along with 1 donkey and transported them to the county farm in Angus. We sold 1 bull, 2 horses, and 1 donkey at Hubbard Livestock Auction for $1,159.45. We collected $ 2,330.00 in estray fees this month.

We had two resignations this month and one new officer began her career with the N.C.S.O. as Dana Joslin was hired for detention. We currently have two detention positions open, and three patrol vacancies. As in the past, applications will continue to be taken for any vacancy until the position is filled.

"Be a person of integrity, someone who sticks to their word. If you said you’d do something, follow through, even if no one else will know, you will. If you don’t hold yourself to a higher standard, there’s a good chance no one else will. You, have to make the choice to be a good, kind, honest person, every day and in every situation."

As always, God bless and be safe.

Sheriff Elmer Tanner