Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock has announced the creation of a Law Enforcement Advisory Panel. The new group aims to enhance cooperation between the Comptroller’s office and law enforcement leaders throughout Texas. The panel will advise on how public safety grant programs are carried out and will highlight issues important to the law enforcement community for consideration by the Comptroller or the agency’s Criminal Investigation Division.
“Texas depends on strong partnerships with the men and women who protect our communities every day,” Hancock said. “This advisory panel ensures we are hearing directly from law enforcement professionals as we administer critical grant programs and continue supporting public safety across our state.”
The panel is set to offer guidance on two key initiatives: the Senate Bill 22 Rural Law Enforcement Grant Program, which focuses on recruitment, retention, and equipment needs for rural sheriff’s offices and prosecutors; and the Senate Bill 8 Sheriff’s Immigration Law Enforcement Grant Program, which supports counties engaged in federal immigration enforcement agreements by providing funding for personnel, training, and operational costs.
Members of the advisory panel will meet quarterly to discuss program implementation, share best practices from their experience, and bring forward emerging issues faced by law enforcement agencies in Texas. As the panel develops further, more members may be added.
The inaugural members include:
– Bill Waybourn (Chair), Sheriff of Tarrant County
– Randy Aguirre, Sheriff of Bee County
– Al Auxier, Sheriff of Kendall County
– Hunter Barnes, Sheriff of Hill County
– Joseph “Guy” Baker, Sheriff of Jim Wells County
– William A. “Tony” Bennie, Sheriff of Grayson County
– Ricky Bishop, Sheriff of Taylor County
– Thaddeus C. Cleveland, Sheriff of Terrell County
– Richard “Rick” DeLeon III, Sheriff of Matagorda County
– Wesley Doolittle, Sheriff of Montgomery County
– Brian Hawthorne, Sheriff of Chambers County
– Tracy Murphree, Sheriff of Denton County
– Jacob Putman, Criminal District Attorney for Smith County
– Bo Stallman, Sheriff of Brazoria County
– Brian L. Thomas, Sheriff of Potter County
For additional details about these law enforcement grant programs or other information related to this initiative visit the Comptroller’s website.
