Brown County Commissioners held a public hearing to end rumors that they had already chosen someone to replace Sheriff Bobby Grubbs who passed away earlier this month. According to Judge Ray West, the court is not ready to choose a successor to fill the office of Brown County Sheriff.
A courtroom full of concerned citizens, family and friends of Brown County Sheriff’s Office employees and officials from the Brown County Sheriff’s Office were present to voice their opinion on the coming appointment.
County Judge Ray West explained that he had interviewed six people as of this morning, which included BCSO Chief Deputy Bobby Duvall, BSCO Sergeant James Stroope, BCSO Deputy Valton Posey, Former Brown County Sheriff Glen Smith, BCSO Captian Vance Hill and Precinct 4 Constable Jim Byars. In an interview after the meeting, West also stated that he planned to interview candidates Billy Bloom and Paul Lilly. Bloom has worked for the West Central Texas Interlocal Crime Task Force along with positions at the Tom Green and Concho County Sheriff’s Offices most recently. Dr. Paul Lilly currently serves as assistant professor of criminal justice and director of Howard Payne University’s Department of Public Safety.
West explained that the court needs to select someone before the upcoming primary, because of the length of time, 7 months. He stated that it is a difficult decision as to whether to appoint from within or appoint from outside of the sheriff’s office. It is not required of the court to appoint a replacement Sheriff; however Texas law states that the court may appoint a replacement, according to West and Commissioner Precinct 2 Joel Kelton.
West stated that the appointment being from within the department or from outside the department would be determined in part by what the public expressed to him. He added that so far he has been approached by about 15 people, which he said he did not solicit but were people who came to him with concerns. West stated that these were also people from the general public, not courthouse staff or anyone with direct interest with law enforcement, “John Q. Public,” people who were either satisfied or dissatisfied with a particular case.
“At this point in time, I have absolutely no idea which way we are going. If we hire from within, that says the commissioners court is satisfied with the status quo, well not the commissioners but the county. If we hire from without, that tells us that the majority of people that talk to us say they want a change,” West said. He asked those present at this morning’s meeting to understand that one thing that the court has to consider is whether or not to appoint someone who is running for the office. “If we appoint someone that is running for the office, we are either giving them a leg up, which is not appropriate, or we are damaging their chances of being elected, which is also not appropriate,” West stated. “So right now I am personally opposed to appointing someone who is running for the office. I think whoever we appoint, needs to finish out the term and then let the electorate decide who they want to be sheriff.”
Joy Grubbs, the Sheriff’s widow, was also present to voice her opinion, urging commissioners to continue her husband’s legacy of an effective department, by promoting someone from within the department.
“I would disagree with that (West’s previous statement). When you have a sheriff in place and he is running again, you have got this same situation. So why would you look at it that way, when a sheriff that has proven himself is out there, whether it is another employee that steps in or someone else who is running, is able to prove himself or disapprove himself, what difference does it make,” asked Mrs. Gubbs.
West answered explaining that the action of the court could be perceived as support for a particular person. “If we appoint someone who is running for office, the public is going to perceive that in one of two ways, either that is who we want to be sheriff so they are going to vote for them, and that is not fair to the other candidates, or ‘that commissioners court, it’s an inside job,’ and they are going to vote against them. There will be a perception that is not appropriate.”
During the public hearing, former Brown County Constable Bob Beadel stated that he was concerned about the rush to name a replacement, while everyone at the BCSO was still grieving.
“My big concern, Bobby has only been buried 6 days and you all have been moving very quick. I don’t know what the real big rush is because we have got people in what’s probably the best Sheriff’s Department we’ve had in years, and it’s been running great. It’s going to run on automatic pilot for 3-4 weeks, because there isn’t anyone over there that is going to do anything that Bobby Grubbs didn’t approve of,” said Beadel. “They have already suffered a big loss, all of them. You need to visit with them, because some of them are hurting more than others. Consider their feelings and all I am saying is please, don’t do anything hasty that is capable of hurting those feelings more or creating a bad morale situation. They are really hurting over there right now. Along with that, with everything that is going on with law enforcement today, and God knows, there another one was shot this morning. We need to be supportive of them, let them do their job and not create turmoil right now. Give them a chance to say what they would like to see.”
Beadel stated that there are only 7 months left before the primary, and suggested that the court promote someone within BCSO to keep it running smoothly. “It’s the public that elected Bobby Grubbs. I think they need to get some input on what they want you to get done,” said Beadel. “Please don’t ever allow any personal feelings to get into this, make it a wise decision for Brown County and the people of Brown County.”
Dr. John Dunn, who serves as the physician at the Brown County Jail, stated that he has an interest in seeing someone appointed who will work smoothly with current employees of both the BCSO and the jail staff.
“I don’t want to stand by and see retaliation because of conflicts between the Sheriff’s Office and the commissioners court,” said Dunn.
Commissioner Joel Kelton stated that he believes appointing someone who is running isn’t necessarily a bad thing, that he believes the appointment should come from within the department, following the chain of command.
“My comment is that we need to keep it from within, to me that was never a question for me. My initial thought is that it should be from within. When asked who I think from within, I initially thought of someone that the rest of us agreed with — my initial thought was Vance,” said Kelton. “I’m not worried about him running. I did read the Texas laws (about that), and it mentions that it really is common practice to choose someone comes in like that because usually they are running. As far as endorsing somebody, choosing the next in command is common, it’s not really endorsing someone. Just putting someone that is next in command in the position that is eligible for the position doesn’t mean you are endorsing them for sheriff, it’s just putting the next in line in that position, whether they run or not.”
Shaw agreed with Kelton stating, “That’s where I am at.”
Although no action could be taken on the matter, the court agreed that more candidates for the appointment should be considered and that the court would take up the appointment again in a future meeting, the next of which will be on Monday, September 21. A definite date for appointment was not determined.
The Brown County 2015-2016 Budget and proposed tax rate will also be addressed at the meeting on Monday, September 21. Both will be considered for approval at a meeting on Monday, September 28.
In other matters on Monday’s agenda:
*Commissioners adopted a proposed tax rate for the FY 2015-2016 at Monday’s meeting of the court. Commissioners approved a proposed tax rate of $0.5955/$100 evaluation which was discussed in during public hearings held during regular meetings of the Brown County Commissioners Court on September 10 and September 14, 2015. This rate consists of general fund $0.4643, debt service $0.0503, and road and flood $0.0809. This proposed rate is $0.0211/$100 evaluation higher than the current 2014 rate of $0.5744/$100 evaluation.
Commissioners had approved publication of the proposed FY 2015-2016 budget at their August 31, 2015 meeting, which is available for viewing at http://www.browncountytx.org under the tab financial transparency.
*Commissioners approved Brown County Sheriff’s Office employee changes of a jail medical officer and a jailer.
*County Clerk Sharon Ferguson received approval of the County Clerk’s Records Archival Plan/Fees (which remain at the current rate of $10 added to civil filings, real property, marriage, birth and death records). These fees help fund the records preservation which must be done every 10 years.
*District Clerk Cheryl Jones received approval of the District Clerk’s Records Archival Plan, which also currently includes a $10 fee.
