Questions Answered by Royce Abbott from the Readers

Question (1) from the Public:

Response from Royce Abbott on 1/15/2008

1.)"What problems do you see within the Reed Administration?"

Lack of training.  lack of supervision. Lack of leadership. Lack of willingness to prosecute criminal activity within the department.

2.) "How do you plan on re-establishing the general public's trust in law enforcement"?

By addressing the needs of the public in a timely manor, by answering their request for assistance and by investigating their complaints of wrong doing regardless of whom the suspect might be.  And, by Total transparency in assets received from drug related arrest and asset recoveries. (money) and drugs especially.

3.) "If a member of your staff commits a crime while in your employ, how will you handle this"?

In the same manner as I would handle a crime committed by any other citizen of this county. Except it would be investigated by an outside authority and prosecuted to the extent of the law.

4.)"What is your view on radar in patrol cars?"

Radar is a means of traffic speed control, it would only be used in areas of complaints of excessive speed, school zones and hazardous conditions.

5.)"What do you plan to do about all the unsolved crimes in Red River County?" (i.e. burglaries, thefts, murders?)

All burglaries, and thefts within the jurisdiction of limitations will be vigorously investigated. Murders however are of a much higher priority and I will not reveal my intentions nor my plans in regards to those. 

Question (2) from the Public:

This is the Response from Royce Abbott to Question 2 (1-4).  Posted 1/18/2008 2:43 P.M.

1.)Will you accept cars or other equipment from a single citizen.

Only if donated through the commissioners court and the donors identity kept anonymous.

2.)Will you allow your personal to use county property for personal use.

Absolutely not. That would be misuse of county equipment.

3.)Will you have a open door policy for citizens to talk to you.

Yes. The very first thing that I will do if elected sheriff is get  the sheriff out of jail. Get him out from behind locked doors and make him available to the public and employees of the department. I believe in an open door policy that gives the public and the employees an opportunity to voice their needs, their complaints and their suggestions for improvement. 

4.)Will you require employees to live within county.

No. They would however! Be required to furnish their own transportation too and from work. 

5.)Will you hire from within county if qualified first.

Only if they were the most qualified applicant.

6.)What can you say for me to trust you as a candidate to be fair and honest and not just another yes person for the click.

Many years ago I filed criminal charges on two of my own sons. It is my belief that the rule of law was intended to be enforced honestly, fairly, and equally, among all people regardless of relation, financial, social, or political status.

Question for the Sheriff Candidates: It has been difficult on numerous occasions to get a deputy to a call because the deputy is out on a traffic stop. If you tell the deputy he has a call holding while he is out on the traffic stop he gets mad. Sometimes these are priority calls. How will you address this issue?

By written policy that tells the deputy to take priority calls even if they are on traffic.  Calls for assistance of any kind take priority over traffic. Disciplinary action will be taken for any policy that is not followed per the policy.

Question (3) from the Public:          

Question for the Sheriff Candidates: It has been difficult on numerous occasions to get a deputy to a call because the deputy is out on a traffic stop. If you tell the deputy he has a call holding while he is out on the traffic stop he gets mad. Sometimes these are priority calls. How will you address this issue?

By written policy that tells the deputy to take priority calls even if they are on traffic.  Calls for assistance of any kind take priority over traffic. Disciplinary action will be taken for any policy that is not followed per the policy.

Question (4) from the Public:          

Questions for those running for Sheriff: The jailers and jail administrator are suppose to run the jail but you have deputies that come in there and tell the jailers what to do and how to do it. Shouldn't the deputies stick to enforcing the law and leave the running of the jail to those who were hired and trained to do it?

Absolutely. Deputies have no responsibility to come to the jail and dictate policy, procedure or activity to the dispatchers or the jailers, and it will not be tolerated if I am elected Sheriff. The jail is the responsibility of the Jail Administrator, not the Deputy's.

Question (5) from the Public:

1.) Please tell us about your qualifications for the position of Sheriff.

30 years experience as a peace officer w/ 16 years in administration / management.

2.) Since one of the biggest problems with the "Reed Administration" is the loss of hardworking and honest deputies, have you considered incentives that would reverse the high turn over rate? My top priority would be bringing about salary increases for jail employees including the deputies.  This does however rely on the commissioners court, but I have had experience in dealing with the Commissioners Court in Collin County and the City Council as Chief of Police in Wylie Texas, on this very subject.

3.) You will inherit at least a 250,000.00 deficit from the "Reed Administration", do you have any expertise in grant writing as a possible solution to alleviate that deficit?

4.) Tell us why you are running for Sheriff

Because of the many many complaints that I have heard from citizens, of unanswered calls, failure to make reports on offenses such as burglary, theft, etc., and the many complaints of citizen abuse by sheriff department employees.

5.) If elected what promises will you make to us, the voters?

I promise you that none of the things just mentioned in question 4 will ever occur if I am elected sheriff. It is my belief that the rule of law was intended to be enforced honestly, fairly, and equally, among all people, regardless of relation, financial, social, or political status.  This is my promise to the voters of Red River County.

Question (6) from the Public:

For those candidates running for Sheriff please answer a question for me, when a person is arrested and brought to your jail what is the time frame in which they will be allowed a "PHONE CALL," if they are allowed one at all. Because I am sure you are all aware in Red River County Jail most of the time as many have experienced you are denied your phone call. And to put it as one jailer put it to me, and I quote "No you can't make a phone call." (and as she shut the holding cell window stated) That stated "I love my job, I love being a Bitch."

Immediately upon request.  There is absolute no reason to delay the person's access to a telephone.  Prisoners will also be released immediately upon making bond, they will not be held 4 or 5 hours after making bond.

Question (7) from the Public:         

To all Sheriff Candidates: Once you are elected and in office will all employees be required to dress professional?

YES!! Everyone will be required to wear a uniform provided by the Sheriff's Department.  Under certain circumstances investigators will be excluded.

I have a question for Royce Abbott how do you feel about peace officers accepting gratuities?

Accepting gratuities is a violation of the law, and they should be prosecuted for it!  If I am elected Sheriff, I don't believe in gratuities, and people who work for me will not be allowed to accept them!