The 132nd Annual Training Conference for the Sheriff’s Association of Texas is now history. It will go down as one of the largest conferences ever held. The numbers were high this year as well with 193 Sheriffs present. Exhibitors totaled about 233, so there was a lot of new equipment, vehicles, software, uniforms, and much more to view. All total I believe there were over 1,500 hundred or more in attendance.

The Sheriff’s Association of Texas is doing great in their membership drives as well. We have 42,317 Associate members, 318 active members, 146 lifetime associate members, 88 lifetime active members, 220 family members, and 234 business members. Many Sheriff’s signed up to have the Associate Membership recruiting material mailed to their counties. The Association also gave out since 1981, 1,504 scholarships for a total amount of $752,000.00. If you’re interested in becoming an associate member, contact me at the office.

Before leaving for Cow Town, Mrs. Sheriff informed me I needed a new cowboy hat. I advised her I had one in the closet that I hadn’t worn for several years, but that didn’t work. So off we went to find a store that carried a straw cowboy hat that she liked, but also fit my head. It took a while but we finally got the job done, so when you get your Lawman Magazine next time your Sheriff will have his 7 5/8 size Stetson on, in some of the pictures, so don’t be too shocked.

We always have the new National Sheriff’s Association President at our conference and this year was no exception. Sheriff B.J. Roberts of Hampton, Virginia was a guest and shared his goals for NSA and some new legislation coming forth. We also heard from Bill White and Barbara Ann Radnosfsky, candidates for Governor and Attorney General, and from those who currently hold those positions, Governor Rick Perry, and Attorney General Greg Abbott.

Also included was a lot of training to choose from to keep our license current. We had classes on TABC Direction, Texas Animal Health Commission Updates, News about on line basic Corrections Courses available, Assessing the International Terror Threat in Your County, all on Monday. On Tuesday we had classes on Building Partnerships with State and Local Law Enforcement, The Prison Rape Act applies to Jails Too, Regional Solutions to a National Problem, (Border Sheriffs) Inmate Care - Holding down Costs While Providing Good Healthcare, Cooperative Purchasing and other State and Local Programs, Resources for Unidentified Human Remains and Missing Person Cases, the role of the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole in the Criminal Justice System, Prisoner Transport Safety Issues, and much more, just to name a few. All in all it was a great conference, good training, a time to renew old friendships and make new ones. Next year’s conference will be held in Houston. Now, back to work!