WASHINGTON CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE 2019 ANNUAL REPORT
During 2019, the Washington County Sheriff's Office continued their efforts to control and/or reduce major criminal activity by performing detailed criminal investigations along with traffic stops that are suspicious in nature. Members of the Sheriff’s office also investigated and/or assisted the Texas Highway Patrol with traffic accidents, participated in and conducted State required mandated training for all Sheriff’s Office employees, conducted job interviews and promotional boards, and responded to and investigated other significant criminal matters.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office is also responsible for operating a 177 capacity jail which has passed random jail inspections conducted by the Texas Jail Commission for 7 years in a row. Jail maintenance staff members, along with inmate work crews have saved Washington county tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars by updating the jail, which is approaching 30 years of age. Deputies also investigated property crimes, testified in court, conducted applicant background checks, responded to loose livestock and residential and business alarms, provided courtroom security, transported prisoners statewide, and conducted safety and welfare checks on residences and businesses. The items listed below represent a small sample of over 100 incident/offense categories tracked and reported by the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
1) Responded to 17,134 incidents/calls with 1544 criminal case reports generated
2) 754,580 miles driven
3 1,315 traffic tickets written
4) 2,966 traffic warnings
5) 282 traffic accidents
6) 215 reckless driving calls
7) 443 false alarms
8) 904 loose livestock calls
9) 432 animal Calls, 85 animal bite calls
10) 950 suspects arrested – felony and misdemeanor charges
11) 390 request to verify welfare of individual
12) 298 calls of “assistance rendered” to motorists and outside agencies
13) 1,043 warrants (felony and misdemeanor) cleared/served
14) 190 business checks, 96 building checks, 163 foot patrols conducted at schools and businesses.
15) 1,323 license plate verifications
During 2019, Deputies, Jailers, Work Crew supervisors, and support staff performed the following functions:
1) 1,604 Male suspects booked into the jail
2) 535 Female suspects booked into the jail
3) 94 Inmates transferred to TDCJ/State Jail/SAFPF/ISF (State Correctional Facilities).
4) 69 Subjects transported for Mental Health Evaluations
5) 207 Bailiff Service dates to County, District and family court
6) Washington County Sheriff's Office Reserve Deputies have logged in approximately 300 hours of patrol, investigation, and special event duties.
7) Initiated and finalized an overall jail painting project
In 2019, the Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.), consisting of 5-8 men and women, and designated to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, performed the following functions. This professional work is cost free and is a tremendous asset to the Sheriff’s office, organizations, and our community. In addition to the C.O.P. required training, these men and women have trained in Hazardous Materials, Pipeline Emergency Response, SKYWARN (weather events), Self-Aid/Buddy Aid, Traffic Incident Management, FEMA Emergency Management Courses, and Active Shooter Training. This year three of the COP’s have received their HAM radio license allowing critical communications backup should law enforcement communications go down.
1) Volunteer Hours – 1,780
2) Miles Driven – 29,408
3) Traffic Accident Assists - 14
4) Traffic Direction – Special Events – 32
5) Traffic Direction – Structure/Grass Fires – 7
6) Funeral Escorts – 7
7) Livestock Out - Assist - 8
As we enter our 8th year of providing Law Enforcement and Corrections services to Washington County, I would like to thank the entire staff of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, our COP’s, and our Reserve Deputies for the professional services provided to the citizens of our county. As your Sheriff, I can assure each of you that we will continue to perform our job functions with integrity and professionalism. I also want to thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to continue to serve our great county.
Happy 2020, be safe and God bless,
Sheriff Otto H. Hanak