When considering our patrol division, I will implement directed criminal patrols focusing on problem areas dictated by past criminal activity and analysis of crime trends. Our patrol coverage in the unincorporated areas will be a priority rather than performing patrols inside city limits where police departments already exist.
I will advocate a pro-active law enforcement approach to our crime problem. When looking at delivery of services there is a prevalent criminological theory called Routine Activities Theory which believes that a crimes occurs when three factors take place in space and time. The three factors are motivated offenders, lack of capable guardians, and suitable targets. Considering our pro-active approach to criminal patrol and community involvement, I believe we can definitely impact the last two which will in turn affect the motivation of the offenders.
The scheduling of personnel will be dictated by analysis of calls for service and periods of peak activity not because of antiquated scheduling techniques. Based on the current system of scheduling, six people are working on one particular afternoon which is not supported by calls for service or increased activity. This is not the most efficient usage of our tax dollars and will be addressed. I will advocate for semi-permanent assigned shifts so that personnel can be more effective in knowing the particular area and people. Having personnel working the same areas, at the same times increases familiarity and improves the probability of detecting something out of the ordinary.
We will have a better utilization of volunteers (particularly Reserve Deputies), the deployment of these personnel will also be dictated by the directed criminal patrol strategy.
We will aggressively seek out grants and funding which will supplement our philosophical approach to criminal activity as well as the responsibilities of the Sheriff’s Office.
We will also utilize traffic safety grants to supplement our patrol personnel and allow these personnel to devote full attention to traffic safety issues. These personnel can specifically focus on Drugs, Drunk & Drugged Drivers, and Criminal Activity through directed traffic enforcement.
We will move the service of our civil processes back to the civil division, the patrol division needs to be patrolling the county not serving papers often inside of a municipality. When the opponent came into office, he delegated the service of court (civil) papers to the patrol division.
The result of this action is, personnel are often busy delivering papers particularly in the evening hours, and may not be in a position to efficiently respond to an emergency call. Also, the error rate on the service of the civil papers has increased due in part to the unfamiliarity the personnel have with the documents. Having people with expertise in the civil service process procedures will reduce the error rates. The efficiency in serving papers while responding to calls is not what it should be. Having personnel drive across the county between calls for service and paper service is not the most economical use of our resources and often times wastes fuel which increases our costs. Finally, under the new computerized records management system when a deputy completes the service of the civil paper, he must return to the Sheriff’s Office and enter the information into the system. This is even more time dedicated to paper service and less time conducting patrols for criminal activity.
When specifically addressing the problem, we wish to take a multi-prong approach in addition to our criminal patrol personnel. In addition, we will corroborate with other law enforcement agencies in order to supplement our criminal enforcement efforts and to decrease expenses.
We will continue and possibly expand in the future, the K-9 Criminal Interdiction program to locate drug couriers, illegal aliens and fugitives along with illicit contraband including drugs, vehicles, drug money and other ill-gotten gains. These personnel primarily work Interstate 40 and have shown significant results in the past with a variety of criminal activity.
I would like to explore instituting a Multi-Agency Drug Task Force to address lower level and mid-level drug dealers within the county. However, based on available federal funding, I sincerely doubt we can implement this program due to significantly decreased congressional funding.
My alternative to the Drug Task Force is to assign personnel (reassigned from other duties based on our reorganization) to address specialized criminal issues on a full-time basis focusing not only on drugs but other criminal activity such as copper theft groups, vehicle chop shops, theft rings, identity theft operations, money laundering operations, response and investigation of clandestine methamphetamine laboratories, etc. under a special operations unit. I sincerely believe this broader crime suppression approach would be much more effective and more economical for the citizens of the county. These personnel could also partner with the local municipalities to provide a more cohesive approach to our highly mobile criminals.
We will explore expanding the number of personnel with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in order to increase the presence of investigative abilities as it relates to Canadian County. Currently, we have one person assigned to DEA as a Task Force Officer in which the Sheriff’s Office pays the salary. The DEA allocates a specific amount of money in which hours worked overtime is paid by DEA. The cost of this position is offset by proceeds and assets forfeited through criminal investigations which are returned to the Sheriff’s Office.
We are considering integrating the Criminal Interdiction personnel, the special operations unit, and DEA personnel under one umbrella. Having these people under one umbrella, we can address a wide range of drug dealing from large traffickers down to our local distributors. These personnel could also exchange information and work together to present better criminal cases. It is our desire this group of employees will be self sufficient in terms of funding without any negative budgetary issues. Both the criminal interdiction personnel and the DEA position have demonstrated the ability to fund themselves through asset forfeiture cases in the past and I expect this will continue and improve with new and dedicated leadership.
The opponent originally campaigned on creating a drug task force along with “launching an upscale war on drugs in Canadian County” when elected. However upon taking office, he designated certain people as the “Drug Response Unit” instead. This designator did not relieve personnel of their initial true responsibilities and was merely a paper tiger. The action did not change enforcement activities in anyway and merely created people who could respond to complaints which did not fix any drug enforcement problems.
The current situation is the Sheriff’s Office has two Criminal Interdiction personnel, one person assigned to work drugs in the county and one person assigned to the DEA. While I have several thoughts on this arrangement, I will say based on my education and experience one person cannot investigate drug issues safely and effectively.
Also, the opponent is now currently working quickly to initiate a partnership with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics in an effort to supposedly address the drug problem in the county. As the election nears and I have announced by candidacy intentions, I question this “new” program which was not important until now. Based on the past track record along with providing personnel with another job title, putting a token person in place or this new partnership it all boils down to more “Smoke and Mirrors”.
I have shown how I intend to address this problem and how we can be effective without increasing expenses. I have a considerable amount of experience in this area and sincerely believe we will be effective with the right leadership and proper direction.
We will purchase tire deflation devices (Stinger Spikes or Stop Sticks) in order to provide additional resources in which to safely terminate vehicle pursuits. In the long term, each car in the entire fleet will have this tool in which to either end or slow vehicle pursuits. I believe deputies should have several options in which to stop a vehicle pursuit and this would be another. Currently the Sheriff’s Office, does not own any of these devices and is forced to use other options including firearms which are not supported by case law.
Upon taking office, we will evaluate what equipment each person is issued and attempt to institute standardization. Currently, we have personnel with certain equipment while others in the same division do not have similar equipment.
One example is the mobile data terminals (ruggedized laptop computers) in the patrol cars, the effectiveness of this equipment is without question and each patrol deputy should have this tool. At this time, about half of the patrol cars have these and there are not any immediate plans to fund more from the budget. Why start something and only do it half way?
Another example is Tasers, in which some people have them while others do not. If we are going to issue these items, then every person should have access to these tools. We believe these issues can be addressed with planning and prioritizing the equipment needs of the Sheriff’s Office.
We will continue our relationship with the U.S. Marshals Service in tracking and apprehending criminal fugitives particularly from this County through the U.S. Marshal’s Metro Fugitive Squad. I would also like to look at other ways and alternatives to clearing the large number of outstanding arrest warrants (over ten thousand active arrest warrants). Canadian County Court Clerk Marie Ramsey has initiated a very effective program with some of the arrest warrants. We would like to explore additional ideas particularly related to non-violent arrest warrants to reduce the arrest warrants.
We will utilize strong investigations and other investigative techniques including the integration of modern technology into the historic pursuit of criminal outlaws. We will never ask our personnel for more quantity and less quality in reports! I will expect enforcement actions are grounded in commonsense decisions and the correct application of the law.
We will look at procedural issues on establishing a focal point of contact for follow-up victim services possibly by non-commissioned personnel. I will also intend to bridge relationships with the many victim service agencies we work with and ensure good lines of communications.
We also intend to work with our personnel in developing a strategic tracking process for crime report follow-up and a prioritization of cases we are handling. I will also encourage proper investigation of initial criminal actions in order to increase the likelihood of apprehension.
We need improved tracking and notification to the public of Sex Offenders within our community. We would like to consider a web based program available to all county law enforcement agencies in order to better track and supervise sex offenders within the county. Currently, there are nearly one hundred registered sex offenders residing in the county and supervision is divided among a number of agencies. Based on my experience in implementing a strong sex offender registry program, I know what needs to be done. Through better working relationships with the other agencies, we can insure compliance with the requirements and adequate supervision.
Further into the administration, we would like to consider implementing a Sheriff’s Posse program made up of unpaid and unarmed volunteers. The participants will be people not interested in carrying a firearm or conducting patrol but wish to provide either technical assistance or volunteer time. It is possible funding may be available through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Possible technical assistance which may be utilized are accountants for financial investigations, photographers for particular crime scenes, architects and engineers for technical diagrams, volunteers sitting with children during investigations, traffic control for major events to augment the full-time and reserve Deputies, and interpreters to name a few areas. Posse members will receive training in a standardized format and will have quarterly to semi-annual meetings to learn of events and new crime trends.
As noted in the Fiscal Responsibility area, I intend to have the staff identify and prioritize training needs of the Sheriff’s Office. Throughout my time at the Sheriff’s Office, there was never an established standard as to what continuing education training should be received, other than firearms. I intend to look at minimum training levels and expand training based on the needs of the Sheriff’s Office, the employee’s assignment and personality of the particular employee. This training will foster professionalism and more knowledge regarding subject areas we should be addressing. I will strive to ensure personnel are kept up to date regarding changes in the laws as well as case law and are knowledgeable of the proper application of our responsibilities.
There is more than adequate case law that establishes the agencies responsibility in a failure to train scenario. The Sheriff’s Office has a number of instructors for various topics who are very capable. In our ever changing world, training is a necessary part in our evolving role in society. By developing an adequate training program, we believe we can reduce our liability related to the most common lawsuits.
I also intend to have the staff review our Field Training program which is used for newly appointed deputies to orientate them to various procedures and techniques. As with the training previously discussed, case law clearly establishes the agencies responsibility in a failure to train lawsuit. Addressing this issue and ensuring adequate field training benefits all involved including the deputy, Sheriff’s Office, and the taxpayer (in the event of a significant lawsuit).
We would be glad to hear your feedback and/or questions about these issues. Send us an e-mail (beaty4sheriff@gmail.com) and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
It is not our intent to “air dirty laundry” or make disparaging remarks about the incumbent in the information provided in the issues section. I am attempting to educate the voters on the specific issues and explain how we plan to improve, correct, or cease the action in order to have a more effective, efficient and professional sheriff’s office that we should all expect. It is our sincere desire to have a professional respectful campaign discussing issues without personal attacks or unethical behavior. While we may disagree, I will strive to have humility, understanding, and respect for an opposing point of view. Thank you for your time and interest in being a better educated voter.
Very well written David. I think you "have hit the nail on the head" with many of your proposed plans and ideas. As you know from when we both worked there, the Canadian County Sheriff's Office was once looked at as one of the top Sheriff's Office in the State and highly respected. Unfortunately this is no longer the case. It used to be an agency where those of us employed there enjoyed serving the community, loved our jobs and believed we belonged to the BEST law enforcement agency in the State. Once again, unfortunately this does not seem to be the case and is clearly supported by the "original" members that have either left or want to leave since the incumbent took over. I truly believe it is time for a much needed change of leadership, which will in turn put the Sheriff's Office back on track doing what it used to do best - Protect the people of Canadian County! Best of luck and please let me know if I can assist you in any way.
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