Letter to the editor

Sheriff’s position complex, challenging; reader studying both candidates closely

I’ve been reading the interviews of the sheriff candidates in The Panolian and trying to make up my mind how to vote in the upcoming election. It’s going to be a hard decision for me to make as I respect both of the candidates. Mr. Bright has increased the patrols as he stated he would.  The sheriff’s department is more visible than at any other time I have lived here.

I have an issue with the fact that there are warrants to be served but they are not as the jail is full.  There is a sheriff in Maricopa County, Arizona that has a tent city.  Why can’t Panola County do something like that for the folks that are not violent?   These people could be utilized to walk the roadways in the county and pick up litter while they serve out their sentence.

Also since our deputies travel one to a car it would make sense to me for each deputy to have a dog. This would take time to do because of the expense. However, it would be less expensive than hiring deputies to double up in the higher crime areas of the county.

We have a busy truck stop and two rest areas in the county where drug dogs could be used on routine patrols of these areas.  There was a truck driver that was arrested a couple of months ago that would have never been caught if he hadn’t had a minor wreck at Maggie T’s.

 There are other areas, too, that I am looking at the answers both candidates give The Panolian.  The Sheriff’s job seems to be a rather complex position and we need the best overall candidate to fill that position.

 /s/William H. Taylor