Biography       

Name:              Larry G. Wilkins

Age:                 50

Occupation:    Executive Pastor

Website:          www.wilkinsforsheriff.com

Residence:  East Side

Relevant Experience:

 

 

Issues

 

1.   What role would you direct the Sheriff's Department to take with immigration enforcement?

 

The primary role of local law enforcement is public safety/effective flow of commerce.  Immigration enforcement is the primary responsibility of the federal government. In the course of performing their primary role, local government is in contact with individuals in the community. They must identify these people to ensure they are not wanted.  Occasionally, the officer

 

2.   What is your position on consolidation of police and sheriff? If you support it, what specific steps will you commit to?

 

 Consolidation would be a natural trend if an appropriate level of communication and collaboration were a priority to the chief of police and sheriff.  I have a proven record of fostering strong collaborative efforts and will continue to do so.

 I will work toward limited consolidation that would save costs and/or improve services to our community.  I do not believe a full consolidation is wise at this time.

 If requested I will provide specifics of my plan.

 

3.     What is your position on privatizing prisons in general, and El Paso's in specific?

 

 Considering privatization of a county jail would be appropriate if the existing facility was poorly run.  This is clearly not the case in El Paso.  Our two detention facilities are among the best run in the nation.  They pass annual inspections by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and are both accredited through American Corrections Association / Commission on Accreditation for Corrections.  I operated the Jail Annex during the preparation for and the actual process of accreditation.

 The men and women who operate the two County Jails in El Paso are professionals who are worthy of great respect and support from their leaders and community.

 

4.     What is your position on the new state law that allows officers the discretion to write a ticket for possession of marijuana under 4 ounces? Should such discretion be exercised in El Paso?

 

 I do not believe it is in the best of our society for drug dealers to be cited and released.  In my experience, 4 ounces of marijuana is more than an amount considered to be personal use. This discretion will not be exercised by officers with the Sheriff's Office.

 

5.   Do you support citizen review committees? If so, what powers or authority do you support?

 

 Properly structured, the use a citizen review committee during the employee disciplinary process to help me determine appropriate levels of discipline has merit.

 

6.     How would you balance using confiscated funds to bolster the budget and the potential to abuse confiscation to bolster the budget? What controls are or should be in place?

 

 Confiscation should never be used as a means to bolster the budget.  However, aggressive enforcement includes interdicting illegal drugs and their proceeds.  This will be a high priority in my administration. 

There are good controls, both internal and external, already in place to ensure constitutional rights are adhered to by law enforcement.  These include; written policies and procedures, a written memorandum of understanding between the Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney, The United States Constitution (including the 4th, 5th, 8th and 14th amendments) and the Texas Rules of Evidence.

Local law enforcement must always remember we are not

 

7.     What is the current relationship between the union and the command? What should the relationship be?

 

 I believe President Marrufo has an opportunity to significantly improve this one strong relationship and I encourage both sides to go the extra mile to bring this relationship back to where it was several years ago.

 

8.   What do you believe is the biggest issue facing the department?

 

 Clearly, the biggest issue facing the department is a transition from almost 24 years under Sheriff Leo Samaniego through the year under Sheriff Apodaca and a term of a new sheriff. This type of change would test any agency. The men and women of the Department are professional, dedicated and they desire a qualified leader who will continue the department in a positive direction.