TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott met with more than a dozen East Texas sheriffs in Tyler Thursday to discuss public safety.
“It’s great to be back in East Texas,” Abbott said. “We have a common goal, and that’s to make sure that our state is going to be a law and order state, a state that’s going to be very safe.”
Abbott was joined by Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith, Lamar County Sheriff Scott Cass, State Reps. Daniel Alders and Cole Hefner, and sheriffs from surrounding counties.
“Texas is a law-and-order state, and the men and women who wear the badge represent the very best of who we are as Texans,” Abbott said. “As Governor, I will always have the backs of our law enforcement officers and provide them with the resources they need to keep our communities safe.”
Gang violence was a top concern for Smith.
“The gangs, that’s what we see here more in Smith County is more time consuming from my criminal investigation division than anything else,” Smith said. “We had a double homicide here probably about six months ago… that took many, many, many man hours… just for gang out here wanting to shoot somebody for no reason.”
Abbott said the state is expanding Texas anti-gang centers:
“I’ve also worked with these sheriffs on expanding the Texas anti-gang centers across the state,” Abbott said. “These centers are a collaborative effort of local, state, and federal law enforcement officers working together, especially sharing intelligence.”
Smith County is home to one of nine centers statewide.
“I think we’re the 9th… in the whole state of Texas. And we have one right here in Smith County,” Smith said. “It has been a game changer as far as working these types of crimes.”
Panola County Sheriff Cutter Clinton said rural sheriffs also raised unfunded mandates and technology challenges “That can at times present challenges to law enforcement,” Sheriff Clinton says.
Smith said staffing comes down to pay.
“It’s getting more and more difficult to get individuals that will stay,” Smith said. “We used our Senate Bill 22 funding… for giving raises to our much needed raises to our law enforcement officers.”
Abbott pointed to state funding:
“So one thing that we’ve done is I established the Rural Law Enforcement Grant Program that’s provided more than $600 million to local law enforcement agencies,” Abbott said. “We have provided more than a half a billion dollars in local public safety grants to assist our law enforcement officers.”
“Our law enforcement officers risk their lives every single day,” Abbott added. “Our law enforcement officers like these with us here today, they represent the very best of who we are as a state.”
Texas Democratic Party Spokesman Jacob Long responded to Abbott’s visit.
“It’s a shame that Greg Abbott only came to Tyler today because he needed an excuse to avoid showing up to debate Gina Hinojosa and answering for his disastrous record,” Long said. “After 30 years in public office, he’s had plenty of opportunity to do all the things he’s promising to do now that his name is on the ballot.”
Hinojosa’s campaign says it requested four debates, proposing one for today, with no response. When asked Thursday about debating, Abbott said he’s prioritizing speaking with community members.
“I will tell you what I have found, having won the governorship before. The most important thing that a governor can do is to show up in communities. What voters want to see and hear- they want to see their governor in their community. They want to have the ability to ask their governor questions.”
After Tyler, Abbott headed to Huntsville.
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