CONROE, TX- Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle made his first public appearance in that role Monday, as he took the oath of office and administered the oath of office to law enforcement and civilian employees of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at the Lone Star Convention Center.
Sheriff Doolittle sported his trademark “white hat” as he thanked everyone, saying he was honored to stand before the large crowd.
“I look around this room and I see fellow law enforcement professionals, community leaders, friends, family, and neighbors – people with a shared vision and commitment to protect and serve our community,” he said.
“Montgomery County has a remarkable legacy. We were the third county formed under President Sam Houston and the Republic of Texas,” Sheriff Doolittle said. “Our first Sheriff, Joshua Robbins served from 1837 to 1841, and since then, 40 others have proudly served this office. Each brought new ideas and improvements, constantly pushing our agency toward a greater level of professionalism and effectiveness.”
The ever-humble and grateful Sheriff then said Montgomery County is fortunate to have Sheriff Joe Corely, Sheriff Tommy Gage and Sheriff Guy Williams still residing in Montgomery County.
“Their dedication, wisdom and experience have shaped this office, and they have given invaluable counsel that will continue to benefit us for years to come,” Doolittle said. “I stand on the shoulders of those who have come before me, determined to build upon the 188-year tradition of service to this county.”
The crowd of civilians and law enforcement erupted in applause when Sheriff Doolittle said, “I’m humbled to serve as your 42nd Montgomery County Sheriff.”
He then made a bold statement, promising to “honor the proud history” with which he’s entrusted.
“I also know this task is bigger than any one person,” he said. “It will take all of us working together to continue our evolution and meet the challenges that lie ahead.”
The Sheriff pointed to Montgomery County’s rapid growth, now at around 750,000 residents and undoubtedly soon reaching one million. He pointed out the growing responsibility to “protect and serve” that automatically accompanies the increase.
“Our Sheriff’s Office currently has about 1,053 employees including 575 commissioned peace officers, 265 jailers, and over 200 dedicated support staff,” Doolittle said. “We house roughly 1,200 inmates, and we manage six district sub-stations along with our department headquarters here in Conroe.”
The Sheriff said the MCSO budget is more than $120 million per fiscal year, which he says reflects not just the scale of the MCSO’s operation, but “the high expectations our community has” for the agency.
“Like many law enforcement agencies across the country, we face significant challenges- rising call volumes, the need to staff satellite jails, and finding new ways to provide effective and compassionate service – but through it all, I’m immensely proud of your selflessness,” Doolittle said. “The work you do each day is often thankless, yet it is essential to the wellbeing of our citizens, so thank you.”
The new Sheriff then spoke of the agency’s path moving forward. Keeping his always positive tone, he didn’t use the words “We’ll try to” but, instead said, “We will strengthen our relationships with citizens, law enforcement agencies, our Constables, our local Police Departments, our commissioners, our Judges, our District Attorneys, and corrections partners.”
“We must stand united to show Montgomery County remains safe, secure, and thriving,” he said.
The Sheriff continued his inspirational introduction, vowing to embrace “forward-thinking strategies and adopting best practices,” promising the MCSO will become “a model law enforcement agency, not just in Texas but across the nation,” saying the agency will simultaneously honor its Texas history and uphold “standards and the traditions that make Montgomery County such a unique and vibrant place.”
“This county is more than just where I work,” Sheriff Doolittle said. “It’s my home. It’s OUR home.”
His family has lived in Montgomery County since the 1800s, he said.
“Ensuring the safety and security of our families, citizens, and friends is not just a professional responsibility, it is a personal calling,” Sheriff Doolittle said.
“Like many of you, I have spent much of my adult life in public service on the roads and in the trenches. I understand the unique challenges we face daily, and I will never forget where I come from,” he said. “And I stand with you as we embark upon the next chapter of our agency’s proud history.”
Sheriff Doolittle reminded everyone no agency is immune from “challenges”, and some are already on the horizon, based simply on the county’s continued increases.
“During my tenure, we will need to build a new jail to meet the demands of our county’s explosive and continuous growth,” he said. “We will need to expand our capabilities with traffic law enforcement and accident prevention, to remove dangerous drivers from our roadways and effectively manage crash scenes.”
“We will need to enhance our criminal investigations and our crime lab capabilities to ensure that all victims receive the justice they so deserve,” Sheriff Doolittle said. “We will need to grow the backbone of the organization and assure that our patrol personnel and resources can meet the expectations set by the public.”
“However, while some may consider these challenges, I consider these opportunities,” he said.
“Montgomery county is fortunate because our community, our law enforcement, and our county government are united in standing for the rule of law,” he continued. “We all agreed on the responsibility and importance of prioritizing public safety. As your Sheriff, I pledge to work tirelessly with you to overcome these challenges, pursue opportunities, improve morale, reduce crime, and respond effectively to emergencies.”
Sheriff Doolittle then said he was asking MCSO employees “to do a day’s work, for a day’s pay” and for “honesty, integrity”, and that they “always do the right thing.”
“I ask you to remain courteous, humble, and brave as we serve this community together,” Sheriff Doolittle said. “I ask that you embrace our core values of service, teamwork, accountability and respect (star) – I expect every employee to be a ‘star’ and to positively uphold these values as you represent me, this office, the law enforcement profession and Montgomery County.
“Our core values are not just words. They are guiding principles… our North Star. They define who we are and how we conduct ourselves,” he said. “I expect every employee to live by these values daily. You wear the badge, patch and now the official hat of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and with that comes great responsibility, to uphold our reputation and to fulfill our mission.”
“We will set high standards for our performance, and our conduct, and hold ourselves accountable for our actions,” the Sheriff said. “In doing so, we will maintain the trust of the community that we serve.”
“Through innovative, disciplined leadership and unwavering professionalism, we will ensure our county remains a safe and a welcoming place for families, businesses, and visitors alike,” he said.
Everyone from commissioned law enforcement officers to civilian support staff took the oath of office together. Sheriff Doolittle said every member of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was equally valued and appreciated, and he continued his positive message of unity.
“From this day forward, we will act as one team, dedicated to serving citizens in the best of times, and prepared to stand together in the worst of times,” he said. “Our experienced command staff shares our mission, our vision, and our values. With their leadership and your dedication, we will adopt the best practices in law enforcement, and we will continually strive to provide the highest level of service humanly possible.”
The Sheriff then invited input from MCSO employees to command staff in the coming months, saying everyone’s ideas and are concerns are “essential” to the agency’s “collective success”.
“We want to ensure that every voice is heard,” he said. “If you have ideas that will make our department better, we want to hear them. If you see areas for improvement, we want to address them. And if there are problems, we will work together to solve them.”
Although it was already obvious to anyone listening, Sheriff Doolittle said he was excited about what they would accomplish together, and he was honored to serve as their Sheriff, adding that he looked forward to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with each of (MCSO employees) as they “continue to write Montgomery County’s history”.
Editor’s Note: We at MCPR congratulate our new Sheriff and those who have the honor of standing with him in this historical moment in our county and our country!
