by David Monroe
News ReporterThe Republican primary for Harris County Sheriff pits a lesser-known police officer against two well-known candidates, one of which is the incumbent Harris County Sheriff.
Sheriff Tommy Thomas said, "The greatest challenge facing the sheriff's department is to maintain or improve levels of service in an era of severe budget restrictions."
He pointed to his success in this area in his campaign. Thomas stated that he has appointed the first woman and the first Hispanic to the Command Staff, and he has put an extra 120 patrol officers on the street without an increase in taxes.
Thomas also emphasized that he tripled the size of the department's Family Violence Unit. "We must continue to seek ways to shift existing resources to meet the demand for increased law enforcement protection," he said.
Less-known candidate Paul Day, a Houston police officer and a SWAT team member, said he believes the operation of the sheriff's department should be based on "Godly principles."
"I will implement innovative training programs to prepare certified police officers to be reassigned to street patrol, while simultaneously replacing these officers in the jail with civilian jailers," Day said.
Day also said he would "begin countywide ethnic and racial sensitivity training and family violence sensitivity training for law enforcement officers."
For Guy Clark, Roman Forest chief of police, juvenile crime is the main issue.
"We need immediate plans of education and punishment for children involved in assault crimes with weapons," Clark said.
In addition, he said the Harris County Sheriff's Department's morale is at an all-time low. "The attitudes of some deputies toward citizens are inexcusable and reflect on the majority of officers who are outstanding," Clark said.
Finally, he said, "The emphasis should be brought back to the main focus of law enforcement -- to make our homes, businesses and streets safer."