Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock has announced the creation of a Law Enforcement Advisory Panel. The purpose of the panel is to improve collaboration between the Comptroller’s office and law enforcement leaders throughout Texas. The group will advise on public safety grant programs and highlight issues affecting the law enforcement community that may need attention from the Comptroller or its 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 advisory panel will provide guidance on two major grant initiatives: Senate Bill 22’s Rural Law Enforcement Grant Program, which supports rural sheriff’s offices and prosecutors in recruitment, retention, and equipment; and Senate Bill 8’s Sheriff’s Immigration Law Enforcement Grant Program, which assists counties participating in federal immigration enforcement agreements by funding personnel, training, and operational costs.
Panel members are set to meet quarterly to discuss program implementation, share best practices from their agencies, and address new challenges facing law enforcement across Texas. The list of members may grow as the panel develops further.
Members named to the panel 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 grant programs or to learn more about the advisory panel’s activities or membership updates as they develop further over time visit the Comptroller’s website.
