Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock has announced the creation of a Law Enforcement Advisory Panel. The panel aims to improve cooperation between the Comptroller’s office and law enforcement leaders throughout Texas. Its purpose is to provide advice on public safety grant programs and highlight issues affecting law enforcement that may need attention from 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 advisory group will guide implementation of two major initiatives: the Senate Bill 22 Rural Law Enforcement Grant Program, which addresses 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 involved in federal immigration enforcement agreements by providing resources for personnel, training, and operational costs.
Panel members will meet quarterly to review how these programs are working, share best practices from their experiences, and discuss new challenges facing Texas law enforcement agencies. The panel may expand as it develops further.
The current 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
These individuals bring experience ranging from local policing to federal service in areas such as investigations and border security.
More information about these grant programs can be found on the Comptroller’s website.
