WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT
Sheriff Otto Hanak presents the Washington County Sheriff's Office monthly report to the Commissioner’s Court on the third Tuesday of each month. During the month of September, 2015, deputies performed the following functions. These functions represent a small sample of over 100 incident/offense categories tracked and reported by the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
1) Responded to 1,529 incidents/calls
2) 71,071 miles driven
3) 55 traffic tickets written
4) 217 traffic warnings
5) 272 Traffic stops
5) 67 reckless driving calls
6) 64 false alarms
7) 66 loose livestock calls
8) 34 animal/animal bite calls
9) 146 arrests – felony and misdemeanor
10) 36 request to verify welfare of individual
11) 54 calls of “assistance rendered” to motorists and outside agencies
12) 111 warrants (felony and misdemeanor) executed
13) 11 - business checks/foot patrol
14) 230 - license plate verifications
A small sample of felony level activities performed by The Washington County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division and Deputies activities since June 1, 2015 are as follows:
1) Felony arrests - Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon
2) Felony arrest - Aggravated Robbery
3) Felony arrests - Burglary of a Motor Vehicles
4) Felony arrests - Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicles – Stolen Vehicle Recovered
5) Felony arrests - Burglary of a Building/Habitations – Stolen Property Recovered
6) Felony arrest - Sexual Assault of a Child
7) Felony arrests -Thefts – Trailers/Heavy Equipment and vehicles recovered
8) Felony arrest - Fugitive - Aggravated Assault
9) Felony Arrest - Aggravated Robbery with a Deadly Weapon
10) Felony Arrest - Injury to the Elderly
11) Felony Arrest - Possession of Stolen Property
**Juvenile Detentions – Criminal Mischief – Destruction of Mailboxes
During the month of September, 2015, the Washington County Sheriff’s jail, transport, and support staff performed the following functions:
1) 126 male suspects booked into the jail
2) 32 female suspects booked into the jail
3) 10 inmates transferred to T.D.C.
4) 14 bailiff service dates to County and District Courts
5) 95% completion of repainting and repairing jail structure with inmate and staff labor which results in saving well over $250,000.00 of tax dollars.
6) Since January 1, 2015, staff and inmate labor removed 625,420 pounds of trees, brush, and timber from our county roads with inmate and staff labor. This relates to saving well over $67,065.00 in tax dollars.
Since June 1, 2015 and through September 30, 2015, the Citizens on Patrol, consisting of 5-10 men and women, and designated to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, performed the following functions. This work is cost free and is a tremendous asset to the Sheriff’s office, organizations, and our community.
Volunteer Hours - 785
Traffic Direction - 31 Special Events
Traffic Accident Assists – 5
Since January 1, 2015 and until September 30, 2015, deputies have responded to over 16,743 incidents that required law enforcement action or involvement of some type. In addition, we have responded to 462 false alarm calls and 589 loose livestock calls in our county that covers over 600 square miles. During this same time frame, our deputies have executed over 1,534 arrest warrants, checked on over 3,328 vehicles while on daily patrols, have made over 3,043 traffic stops, and driven over 657,135 miles while patrolling our rural roadway, subdivisions, and neighborhoods. We have been involved in the investigation of over 359 traffic wrecks. We are currently operating with only two (2) or three (3) deputies per shift, while working 12 hour shifts.
Sheriff Hanak would like to remind everyone that the busy holiday season is fast approaching and there are those that will take advantage of us, should we let our guard down. Always be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking to and from your vehicles at shopping centers, whether day or night. Recently our communities experienced National Night Out and I ask you all to continue these relationships with your neighbors year round and watch out for one another. Residential burglaries rise during the holiday season so keep a watchful eye out for strange vehicles and people in your neighborhoods.
Should you have a residential or business alarm, do all you can to reduce false alarms. Law enforcement response to false alarms and loose livestock is a significant cost to taxpayers as well jeopardizing the safety of our officers and citizens as we respond. Scams continue in our community both by mail and phone so remain aware that these criminals will do and say anything in order to get you to comply with their demands. Feel free to contact law enforcement should our citizens feel a scam is in the works. We will do all we can to assist you and hopefully prevent you from becoming a crime victim. As the Sheriff of Washington County, I would like to thank you all for your continued support of local law enforcement agencies and know that we will do all we can to provide the best professional service possible.
The Washington County Dispatch Center non-emergency number of 979-337-7272 or if an emergency, always call 911. The main number for the Washington County Sheriff's Office is 979-277-6251. Please feel free to visit our website at www.washingtoncosheriff.org