Post by KC on Jun 6, 2006 21:23:57 GMT -5
June 06, 2004 - One week after Menard's improbable law enforcement crisis ended, things are quickly returning to normal in the quiet Hill Country town of 1,600 about 2 1/2 hours northwest of San Antonio.
"This is a pretty slow town and not a lot happens, but for a lot of people it was traumatic," Dan Feather, editor of the local newspaper, said of the sudden resignation of Sheriff Clay Wagner and two deputies on May 23.
The departures came after a one-day walkout by the department's four female dispatchers, who complained about mistreatment by some of the officers. Wagner was also under heavy pressure to quit from District Attorney Ron Sutton.
The sudden vacuum was temporarily filled by Texas Rangers and Department of Public Safety troopers who responded to a cry for help from County Judge Richard Cordes.
"It was kind of scary, but I can't thank the Texas Rangers and DPS troopers enough. They responded to our needs real quick," Cordes said.
And now, following DPS Trooper Buck Miller's May 26 appointment as interim sheriff, the department is functioning smoothly again.
"My wife prayed about it all night and it seemed like the right thing," said Miller, former sheriff in Real County and a longtime resident of Menard.
"The community has given me so much, I decided to give them a little back," said the 55-year-old Miller, who took a pay cut when he changed jobs.
The four prisoners who were abruptly sent to neighboring jails have returned, as have all the dispatchers who double as jailers, and Miller is busy hiring two more deputies.
"We've got a full regimen of dispatchers and jailers," Cordes said. "We have two deputies and he's looking at a couple of new ones right now."
Miller said the department should be up to full strength in two weeks. He said he intends to run for a full term for the $30,500-a-year post in November and appears to have strong local backing.
"He's a very popular choice. He's been living here since 1985. I haven't talked to a soul who is not pleased," Feather said, referring to Miller's appointment.
Miller also received a strong endorsement from the district attorney. Sutton was instrumental in persuading Wagner, who was elected despite having no law enforcement experience, to vacate the post.
"Buck Miller is one of the greatest guys there ever was," Sutton said. "I've worked with him for a long time and I've got a great deal of respect for his integrity and common sense."
Sutton said he is still looking into allegations that records, confiscated items and evidence are missing from the Sheriff's Office, but he doesn't know if any serious breaches occurred.
Wagner, who reportedly left town soon after turning in his resignation, claiming he had been threatened, did not return a call Friday to his cell phone.
"This is a pretty slow town and not a lot happens, but for a lot of people it was traumatic," Dan Feather, editor of the local newspaper, said of the sudden resignation of Sheriff Clay Wagner and two deputies on May 23.
The departures came after a one-day walkout by the department's four female dispatchers, who complained about mistreatment by some of the officers. Wagner was also under heavy pressure to quit from District Attorney Ron Sutton.
The sudden vacuum was temporarily filled by Texas Rangers and Department of Public Safety troopers who responded to a cry for help from County Judge Richard Cordes.
"It was kind of scary, but I can't thank the Texas Rangers and DPS troopers enough. They responded to our needs real quick," Cordes said.
And now, following DPS Trooper Buck Miller's May 26 appointment as interim sheriff, the department is functioning smoothly again.
"My wife prayed about it all night and it seemed like the right thing," said Miller, former sheriff in Real County and a longtime resident of Menard.
"The community has given me so much, I decided to give them a little back," said the 55-year-old Miller, who took a pay cut when he changed jobs.
The four prisoners who were abruptly sent to neighboring jails have returned, as have all the dispatchers who double as jailers, and Miller is busy hiring two more deputies.
"We've got a full regimen of dispatchers and jailers," Cordes said. "We have two deputies and he's looking at a couple of new ones right now."
Miller said the department should be up to full strength in two weeks. He said he intends to run for a full term for the $30,500-a-year post in November and appears to have strong local backing.
"He's a very popular choice. He's been living here since 1985. I haven't talked to a soul who is not pleased," Feather said, referring to Miller's appointment.
Miller also received a strong endorsement from the district attorney. Sutton was instrumental in persuading Wagner, who was elected despite having no law enforcement experience, to vacate the post.
"Buck Miller is one of the greatest guys there ever was," Sutton said. "I've worked with him for a long time and I've got a great deal of respect for his integrity and common sense."
Sutton said he is still looking into allegations that records, confiscated items and evidence are missing from the Sheriff's Office, but he doesn't know if any serious breaches occurred.
Wagner, who reportedly left town soon after turning in his resignation, claiming he had been threatened, did not return a call Friday to his cell phone.