As Sheriff Rand Henderson and his team of dedicated law enforcement and detention professionals mark the first one-hundred days in office, it is important to reflect upon the challenges tackled thus far and the exciting “firsts” that deserve acknowledgment for this new, widely-elected administration. Although there is much further to go, citizens of Montgomery County can rest peacefully at night and enjoy their daily lives knowing that they and their families are being protected by the finest men and women in law enforcement and detention.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office honors 180 years of service just as its first Sheriff that rose from the ranks from Training Academy Cadet to the County’s Top Law Enforcement Executive takes the reigns in a social and political landscape that has changed dramatically since 1837. We respect our rich history while looking toward our incredible future. However, this administration is not deaf to the current demands of public safety and community policing. To that end, Sheriff Henderson has been careful to select a management group that exhibits tremendous leadership, advanced education, and hundreds of years of combined law enforcement and detention experience. This new “Leadership Team,” has been key in crafting and implementing the Sheriff’s Office Strategic Plan, the first of its kind for the County. This comprehensive, multi-year blueprint is a living document that will shape law enforcement response and community relationships for years to come.
In this first one-hundred days, Sheriff Henderson’s administration has instituted several changes that have increased efficiency, reduced financial liability, and broadened important partnerships. Although not exhaustive of these efforts, there are a few that should be noted:
Detention Operations – Through the introduction of a “new employee” orientation and pre-training program, we have seen an increase in overall job performance and most importantly, reduction in Jail staff turn-over. In addition, a new Military Veteran Program has been established to provide counseling and support to Veterans behind bars to reduce the chance that they will be arrested again.
Compensatory Time Reduction – Prior to the close of March, 2017, through the concerted efforts of all Sheriff’s office divisions, we were able to reduce comp-time liability by 11% – equating to more than $475,000 in savings to the County.
Career Development and Directed Training – Steps have been taken to professionalize employ development and standardized promotional testing. Individual Development Plans (IDP) combined with a Professional Promotional Process (PPP) will allow our employees reach specific career goals in a logical manner that reduces agency spending on unnecessary training programs and enhances employee retention by providing a straight-forward promotional track and advancement testing system.
Homeland Security – With the creation of this new division and the ability to bring specialized units such as SWAT under one-roof, new efficiencies have been realized. In a partnership with the agency’s records and warrants unit, SWAT personnel have been able to arrest nearly 80 wanted felons since January 1st, 2017. This marks a 33% increase in felony captures over last year, thus far.
Patrol and Criminal Investigations – Utilizing computer-based crime analysis and enhanced community partnerships through daily contact with our citizens and increased social media efforts, our Patrol Deputies and Detectives are seeing success at combating crime, sometimes before it can occur.
We would like you to know more about the challenges, changes, and plans in place as the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, under the leadership of Sheriff Rand Henderson, moves into the future. Please visit our website at www.mctxsheriff.org to keep informed about our agency and public safety, as well as view our 2017 – 2020 Strategic Plan.
