David Russell joins race for Sheriff

at that time

Russell stayed for 14 years with the Houston PD including the first seven years on the night shift and worked days in the second seven years working in special operations which consisted of mounted horse patrol, bicycles, motorcades

"I might have been on a bicycle in the morning and in the motorcade that afternoon with the President (of the United States)" said Russell. "We (bicycle units) led the police department in arrests.

Russell was on patrol for three years before going to the investigative section and stayed there for six years as an investigator Russell was promoted to sergeant over investigations for a year and a half before being promoted once again to leuitenant back in October.

The election for the sheriff's office will be open due to the retirement of longtime Grayson County Sheriff Keith Gary Russell says that he's entering the race due to his experience

Grayson County Sheriff Lieutenant David Russell in his 30th year in law enforecement has entered his hat in the ring for the Sheriff's position.

After moving around quite a bit as a son of an oil field worker, David Russell went to school between Oklahoma and Texas for his entire childhood He has called Texas home for the vast majority of his adult life

At 30 years old, in 1985, Russell became a law man after serving four years in the US Marine Corps He moved to Houston from the Oklahoma City area and applied for the Houston Police Department, which was always hiring

While in special operations, Russell patroled for three different presidents, many dignitaries and presenditial candidates, Prime Minister of China, President of Ghana.

"The one that stands out the most to me was Yassir Arafat (former Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization) " said Russell "He was a small man, but turned to me and said, 'thank you ' He was magnetic "

After his 14 years in Houston, he left for the Gray County Sheriffs Department in Pampa, Texas in the panhandle He was chief deputy and was there for less than two years before coming to the Grayson County Sheriff's office in 2003 under Sheriff Keith Gary

"When I was down in Houston, I got a tremendous amount of experience, both good and bad " said Russell "I've worked investigations for six years and have worked several hundred cases I believe with the experience that I've got and my loyalty and dedication to personnel and my feelings that I have for my community that I could become a good sheriff and someone the citizens would be proud of "

Russell says that he's a Christ-follower and staunch believer in the United States constitution

"I don't believe in violating rights." said Russell.

Russell sees that with the growing population expected to dramatically increase Grayson County in the next decade that the force will continued on Page #3

Russell

continued from Page #2 have to grow to keep up

"We've got enough personnel right now to take care of what we've got." said Russell. "I see the population increase being one of the major challenges."

Russell also talked about the adult gang problem in Grayson County that the department is constantly battling He says that Sheriff Gary has already put some responsibility on that issue and says that it will have to be expanded upon

"I want the citizens of Grayson County to know that we are them and they are us and their rights are going to be respected regardless If someone comes in and violates their rights, we will take care of that." said Russell.

Russell wants to work with the different city agencies, such as Howe, who help out quite often.

"I want to share some of the stuff that we have because they certainly share some of their personnel with us " said Russell

When asked if there would be much of a change in the day-to-day operations of the Grayson County Sheriffs Office if elected, Russell gave a raving endorsement for longtime Sheriff Keith Gary

"Sheriff Gary is a professional He's a professional administrator" said Russell "He's a U S Marshall appointed by four different U S Presidents and is very popular I wouldn't expect and major changes, but I would expect there would be changes just because of the time and the population and the different personnel."

Russell is running against former Sherman Police Department Chief Tom Watt, Sheriff's Deputy Ricky Wheeler, Howard Day and John Hunt from Tom Bean

After high school, Russell was intrigued by the mystique of the Marines He remembered seeing a billboard on I-40 that simply said, "Ask a Marine " He did and stayed four years which included the very end of Vietnam

"I got in the marines because I wasn't ready to take on an eight-tofive job." said Russell. "It's probably, other than being a Christian, the best decision I've ever made as far as other than family."

Russell wants to reach the goal of employees, deputies, clerks, civil and communications to be motivated and excited He says that with the proper leadership and training, they can reach that goal

Salary is often a big challenge at the county level, whereas, city officers normally have an opportunity to make more money Russell says that it is a factor, but it is not the biggest part of the equation. He says that feeling appreciated and belonging and enjoying the work will count the most.

"Our wages aren't great, but they're not bad " said Russell "We've been real blessed with our commissioners and the judge and we've had moderate raises nearly every year Being able to take a vehicle home and not have to pay for transportation The benefits are not too bad for this size of county We're a little behind, but not by a lot "

Russell says that the relations between the Sheriff's office and the District Attorney's office is a strong one.

"The rewards that they're able to receive from the amount of cases they saw depends on how good a job we do." said Russell. "We're motivated to do a good quality job continued on Page #14