TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott met with more than a dozen East Texas sheriffs in Tyler Thursday to discuss public safety.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great to be back in East Texas,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cWe have a common goal, and that\u2019s to make sure that our state is going to be a law and order state, a state that\u2019s going to be very safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cTexas 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,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cAs 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gang violence was a top concern for Smith.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe gangs, that\u2019s what we see here more in Smith County is more time consuming from my criminal investigation division than anything else,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Abbott said the state is expanding Texas anti-gang centers:<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve also worked with these sheriffs on expanding the Texas anti-gang centers across the state,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cThese centers are a collaborative effort of local, state, and federal law enforcement officers working together, especially sharing intelligence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith County is home to one of nine centers statewide.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re the 9th… in the whole state of Texas. And we have one right here in Smith County,\u201d Smith said. \u201cIt has been a game changer as far as working these types of crimes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Panola County Sheriff Cutter Clinton said rural sheriffs also raised unfunded mandates and technology challenges \u201cThat can at times present challenges to law enforcement,\u201d Sheriff Clinton says.<\/p>\n
Smith said staffing comes down to pay.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s getting more and more difficult to get individuals that will stay,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWe used our Senate Bill 22 funding… for giving raises to our much needed raises to our law enforcement officers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Abbott pointed to state funding:<\/p>\n
\u201cSo one thing that we\u2019ve done is I established the Rural Law Enforcement Grant Program that\u2019s provided more than $600 million to local law enforcement agencies,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cWe have provided more than a half a billion dollars in local public safety grants to assist our law enforcement officers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur law enforcement officers risk their lives every single day,\u201d Abbott added. \u201cOur law enforcement officers like these with us here today, they represent the very best of who we are as a state.\u201d<\/p>\n
Texas Democratic Party Spokesman Jacob Long responded to Abbott\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 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,\u201d Long said. \u201cAfter 30 years in public office, he\u2019s had plenty of opportunity to do all the things he\u2019s promising to do now that his name is on the ballot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hinojosa\u2019s campaign says it requested four debates, proposing one for today, with no response. When asked Thursday about debating, Abbott said he\u2019s prioritizing speaking with community members.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Tyler, Abbott headed to Huntsville.<\/p>\n
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