The Collin County Observer

After the prosecutor in SE Texas last year was exposed for building this fund by unsavory means and her questionable use of this legal slush fund, the legislature tried, but failed to fix the problem. The legislature needs to remove the temptation for local DA's to do what they wish with money that they seize.

The current DA's use of this money shows the progressive (and unnecessary) militarization of the courthouse. A bungled terror exercise in the courthouse has already left a judge shot with a blank in the eyes. Instead of a new SWAT team, why not give the money to the sheriff to better train his SWAT team in the next building? This paranoid behavior should concern every citizen who might be a juror or a litigant in the courthouse.

This use of money is another attempt to intimidate the judges and candidates who are fed up and have taken a politically costly stand against the local DA's office and his supporters.

Why not use drug seizure funds to do something to help with drug abuse? Help rather than hinder attempts to designate a felony drug court. Modernize or update local community law enforcement infrastructure (info systems). There are many uses for this $$$ better spent than on a DA's private paramilitary police force.

WOW! I have never heard of a District Attorneys office having a SWAT team. One can only assume that the DA's office either believes that the current county SWAT teams are incompetent or the DA does not want its' SWAT team to comply with the regulations of current SWAT teams. I thought the DA was retiring?

Does anybody know where in the statutes that the DA is authorized to have a police force? I know there's something, and I don't practice much criminal law, so I am asking a genuine question.

He's crazy. Everyone knows Roach is a gun nut. This is nothing more than a bunch of grown men wanting to play SWAT team. Read the description of the stuff. What do they think is going to be happening at the courthouse? And do they really think the DA investigators are going to be the frontline of defense? If an attack on the courthouse can be defeated by issuing subpoenas and drinking coffee, then they're in good shape. Otherwise, call the real SWAT team.
This is $25,000 that could have been used for something useful. Too bad it's been wasted.

Yes, Lin- to be nice, it doesn't make any good sense.

Tex. Gov't Code § 41.109 § 41.109. Authority of Investigator (a) An investigator appointed by a prosecuting attorney has the same authority as the sheriff of the county to make arrests anywhere in the county and to serve anywhere in the state warrants, capiases, subpoenas in criminal cases, and all other processes in civil or criminal cases issued by a district court, county court, or justice court of this state. (b) An investigator is under the exclusive authority and direction of the prosecuting attorney and is not under the authority and direction of the sheriff. The prosecuting attorney is responsible for the official acts of his investigators and has the same remedies against his investigators and their sureties as any person has against a prosecuting attorney and his sureties. (c) An investigator may not draw a fee of any character for performing a duty prescribed by this section. This is the source of his authority. What a nightmare. This is a disaster waiting to happen. These forfeiture funds need to be designated for limited purposes-allowing law enforcement to benefit from this type of behavior just leads to abuse of the process. Roach's actions should serve as a warning sign to the politicions that placing unlimited and unrestricted access to these funds in the hands of the District Attorney is a mistake. The assumption that the District Attorney will use these funds for the betterment of all law enforcement rather than to satisfy his own personal agenda is naive.

It seams to me that the law is pretty clear on this. It vests INVESTIGATORS of the DA's office with peace officer authority - likely for mere convenience and to aid in the (true) administration of justice, and help relieve overworked local police and sheriff offices.

But, SWAT teams are for responding for urgent and emergency situations as well as planned law enforcement activities. In either case, the DA's office should not be involved. In the case of emergencies, unless the DA wants to open a 911 office, they need to stay out of it. Secondly, if its planned, there is time to get a sheriff or police department involved.

This is a HUGE stretch of the law, and the statute never intended to give DA's their own police force.

For such a conservative man, this is quite a large expansion of government. What's the difference in Washington who taxes us to death, and a local DA who creates his own personal militia with unchecked power?

I'm impressed with how little it cost to fully stock a squad of men with equipment...

Simply... stupid.

Remember Tyler Texas Courthouse shooting? I think a better armed team inside the courthouse might have kept it from going as far as it did.

Do a google search for David Arroyo video on youtube.

visitor, I'm pretty sure that would be a different department. Economies of scale would be trying to figure out a way to funnel this money to the CCSO to use for their SWAT team. I'm pretty sure the CCSO is who you see at the Court House... not some agency from within the DA's office.

Roach loves to act like a tough cop, going out and shooting with his investigators all the time. They tolerate it because he's their boss, but they snicker behind his back at his actions.

This exercise also stems from ongoing conflicts between the Sheriff's Office and the DA on many issues, including courthouse security. Although this is a legal use of funds by his office, its just a stupid waste of money by Roach to stroke his own oversized ego and show he can have his own way no matter what the cost.

I just hope nothing ever happens at the courthouse, because some of those investigators are the last people you want armed with fully automative weapons and ballistic shields bursting into a courtroom. This is a accidental tragedy waiting to happen.

Visitor,

Do you think they will be fully geared up and ready all the time? It will take at least 15 mins to open the safe and load up if everyone was in the same room as the weapons safe. The DA should stay out of the way and let those trained to do the job handle situations like that.

The courthouse is already a dangerous place. We really don't need the amateur commando team storming the halls.

We have capable bailiffs who are trained by the sheriff's department who are armed and charged with the protection of the court personnel and the public.

I wanna be a tough guy to is spot on about the conflicts between the DA's Office and the SO. It is also known that Roaches Chief Investigator, Novalin Varner, is part of the driving force behind the SWAT team. One would think that in order to be the lead investigator for the DA's office that the individual would have many years of experience as a detective or investigator. This is simply not the case with Novalien, she was nothing more than Roaches bailif. Now the duo are trying to form a SWAT team and have asked the media to show up to watch some of their training. Believe me when isay that seizure money should be donated to the SO's SWAT team

If you take a tour of the CC Court House you will find out the security is amazing. Every room viewed from a control room via cameras and armed deputies all over the place.
Very impressive! I do not believe using this money for a "swat" team for the DA is beneficial in any way.
Sounds like some kind of a power thing.......

Nobody Important: You are so right; I'm am the driving force behind everything. (Just being a little facetious.)

So, Nov, please tell us why there is a need to spend $25,000 on this equipment.

It seems many that are posting opinions on this matter are lacking the necessary background information concerning DA Investigators.

These men and women have an untold number of years in the law enforcement field. They come from many different agencies where they performed front line policing duties. Many are SWAT and TACTICAL certified and many more have seen virtually every situation, whether in training, or in an actual event,that can happen.

They are not subpoena serving, coffee drinking want-to-be's, as some might like to portray them.

Investigators assigned to the courts of this county work hand in hand with both prosecution and defense to bring about a just conclusion to each criminal case.

The DA Investigator IS the front line peace officer in the courtroom if and when something might go wrong. The court baliff has the sole responsibility to remove the Judge from the courtroom when the bad stuff happens.

DA Investigators train rigorously and continually to face any type of courtroom or courthouse breach. They work hand in hand with McKinney P.D. and the Sheriff's Office in preparing for any conceivable, "threat to the public", situation that might arise within the courthouse.

Having said all of this; for any of the people that believe that there is actually going to be time to hit the, "speed dial", and have the Sheriff's Office gear up when a person has just produced a weapon inside the courtroom and intends to do harm, right then and right there, are sorely misinformed.

If you happen to be in that courtroom when a situation like that arises, your going to love the trained DA Investigator that steps between you and the bad guy.

If you happen to be in the courtroom when it is taken hostage, and you with it, your going to be thankful the money was spent for the equipment that will be used to come to your aid.

Any tactical response team outside the courthouse must first notify its members, assemble them, gear them up, and then respond to the location.

This gives a gunman walking the hallways of the courthouse indiscriminately shooting people , or barracaded inside a courtroom with innocent civilians a lot of time to do his damage.

It's OK to question monetary issues. Everybody has an opinion on how money should be spent. However, it is unfair to cast DA Investigators in a negative light regarding this issue.

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First the $25,000.00 for this equipment is not coming from taxpayers. This money is coming from drug forfeited money. (Art. 59.06 Disposition of Foreited Property.) Art. 2.12. Who Are Peace Officers (5) investigators of the district attorneys', criminal district attorneys', and county attorneys' office. Second, the Courthouse Safety Committee (Kelley Stone, Homeland Security, Major Chuck Ruckle, CCSO, Chief Randy Clark, CCSO, Deputy Chief Rex Redden, McKinney PD) all agreed the District Attorney's Emergency Response Team would respond to an Active Shooter. Bailiffs are responsible for the safety of his/her Judge, Transfer Deputies are responsible for the safety of their inmates. Transfer Deputies aren't armed because they have to move inmates. So, I believe you have only three armed Deputy Sheriffs in the building. On Saturday, June 27, 2009 we trained with CCSO SWAT and McKinney PD SWAT; at the conclusion of this training it was clear we need equipment. All first responsers from fire, police, and medical need equipment and we are no different. We also learned it will take CCSO SWAT and McKinney SWAT a minimum of an hour to hour an half to arrive on scene. Do you know how many people can be killed in a hour? It has also been agreed if a hostage situation happens the DAERT will contain the situation until CCSO SWAT or McKinney PD SWAT can arrive with their Hostage Negotiator and we the DAERT would step down. Investigators in the District Attorney's Office are Peace Officers and their badge carries the same authority as any Peace Officer in the State of Texas. We are well trained Professionls. It is my responsibility to train my Investigators the right way in an Active Shooter situation in hopes they will come out of it alive and the Shooter is taken out. If we don't have the proper equipment you are asking my Investigators to take on basically a suscide mission. We didn't ask for this responsibility, it was delegated to us. I am very proud of the men and women of this Unit. They have stepped up to the plate and have worked hard to be the best they can be to save lives. It is manatory that each Investigator train after hours so we each have the consistency of the same training. I would encourage you to pull up the Smith County shooting and watch how Sheriff Deputies were being shot down with their handguns while the

Shooter was using a long range rifle. Just on Monday, December 4th, 2010 in Vegas, Shooter in a Federal Building, today another shooting in a courthouse, Ft. Worth, I could go on, and on.

So instead of everyone bitchin, they should be thankful these men and women have taken on this responsibility seriously by the oath they sore to as Peace Officers of this State.

WOW Novaline!!!
While I am sure your intention was to justify the SWAT team for the court house it has only made me a little paranoid. It sounds as if the money might be better spent on training the SO. If it would truely take an hour to an hour and a half to gear up and arrive from next door then heaven forbid that we ever have a shooter in one of the malls or any public place where large crowds tend to gather. Sounds to me like first responders should spend the allocated moneys on training first responders to move more quickly and efficiently so we may all feel safe no matter where we may happen to be in Collin County. We may not all be in the court house at the time of an attack.

Ms. Varner,

I'll respond in more depth this evening after work. However, instead of us being darned grateful enough to give you a free hand to militarize at will, perhaps YOU should feel grateful that the taxpayers of this county have given you a job.

I, like most folks in Collin County am very grateful for the work our law enforcement officers do. Their work is dangerous and needed to keep us safe. Nevertheless, we are a nation of laws, and a democracy.

You don't get to do whatever you want to do, simply because you say it is necessary, and we're so grateful.

So let's stick to the facts, eh?

Bill

This is a classic example of people commenting on things when they have no idea what they're talking about. This is real life, not one of your pretend fantasy CSI worlds. How long do some of you think the response would be, from the sheriff's office, if there was an attack on the courthouse? There are 5-6 deputies working the streets, on any given shift, in a county covering 886 square miles. None of which carry SWAT gear in their vehicles because they share their patrol cars with two other deputies. If any of the CCSO SWAT deputies were patrolling that particular day and weren't tied up with an arrest or on a call, then he would have to first drive to the sheriff's office from wherever he is in the county, in order to retrieve his gear from a locked room. Then, he would have to respond and wait at the courthouse for SWAT members who were called out and are driving from wherever they are, whether it be from their homes, shopping mall or out having ice cream with their kids. Once they all assemble, they can then formulate a plan and take action. How long do you think all that takes, 20 or 30 minutes? The DA investigators request is not really for a SWAT team, it's more like a fast response team. Considering the woeful lack of manpower at CCSO, it is a perfectly logical and reasonable request. With their investigators properly trained, and make no mistake, they are certified Texas peace officers, their response would be immediate and effective in a situation where every second counts. They would already be responding before any CCSO deputy retrieved his gear. If you would rather have the Sheriff's office respond to these types of calls, then I suggest you throw Self out of office and elect someone who has public safety as their priority. Until then, get used to having DA SWAT teams and Constables running traffic and writing tickets. These are not failures of county law enforcement heads trying to one up each other. This is another case of a county law enforcement head trying to plug holes in coverage, for the sake of public safety, because our commissioners court won't fund the Sheriff's office so they can do the job that they are supposed to do. So until you, the voters, replace Self and his cronies, deal with it. It's only going to get worse. Also, I don't work for the DA's office, I just know what I'm talking about.

EXCUSE ME! I thought I just explained the facts. By the way, I too am a taxpayer and very much thankful for my job. Thanks for believing I have so much power to be able militarize at my will. Good to know.

Bill, please stop with the 'should feel darned grateful' talk. If anyone should be grateful, it's the citizens who get to sit back and Monday morning quarterback things they know nothing about, not do they want to do anything about. They should be grateful for those law enforcement officers here who put up with bare bones budgeting, training and the lack of respect and support by ungrateful citizens and county commissioners court. If you, or anyone else, wants law enforcement to function properly in this county, then support them by getting them support and funding from the court. Making asinine remarks serves no purpose what so ever. Thanks and have a great day.

Visitor,

I have been in court when a litigant got violent. The bailiff protected me, the judge, and the gallery. There was no DA investigator because there was not an actual criminal trial going on. And they aren't even present for the entire trial. So, it is the very rare occassion that an investigtor is in the courtroom. Maybe you should spend a day at the courthouse and see how it works. Watch something other than a criminal trial. The single most dangerous cases are family law cases. The shootings that occurred in Fort Worth and Dallas Courthouses concerned family law cases - not criminal.

The investigators do a good job providing investigative support to the prosecuting attorneys. They have never ever been used, to my knowledge, as a security posse to the public in the court room.

Novaline - I think you are good woman. But I disagree with you on this point. Hot check fees are collected from defendants who are prosecuted by the DA's office. That money is taxpayer money, indeed. But I don't think the Commissioner's Court has the authority to prevent the DA's office from spending that money on what they want.

I hope that posse wasn't responsible for shooting Judge Roach a few months ago - help us all.

Ms. Varner, if you will please correct the fact that the money collected from anywhere & put in any public officials account is in fact
public money.
Please remember that the court house belongs to the public & taxpayers of America, and you all scare the living daylights out of the average citizen even considering going to the court house if employees are turning it into an armed camp.
How can anyone know who to trust in the case of an event if everyone is shooting at everyone else?
So sanity needs brought to this problem, it sounds like the Wild West.
If this gets out of control maybe the Rangers will come in & take control.

Sticking to the facts. That's a great idea, Mr. Baumbach.

Wow! It sure looks like Collin County is planning on training some really bad ass prosecutors.

That's what you penned in your article.

Really Bill? Do you honestly believe that State attorneys enter the courtroom packing heat? Do you believe State lawyers are actively in tactical training to handle a situation in case one of their cases goes bad? The facts Bill, remember?

I can only believe that the following are your words since they did not appear in quotation marks in your article:

What it gives you are over-armed and under-trained officers who have the ready ability to escalate force levels beyond their training and expertise. Cool automatic rifles and helmets may be great for pumping up law enforcement testosterone levels, but they can also cause excessive violence.

Really Bill? These are facts? These are indictments aimed at DA Investigators by you.

For you to make these comments, we can safely believe that you know all about a DA Investigator's background, training, expertise, and testosterone level.

We can also safely believe that you have some first hand experience in how cool automatic weapons and helmets cause excessive violence.

Are these the facts Bill, or just your spin?

The readers of this venue are intelligent people. Do you really think it necessary to paint them a picture Bill?

"A la Poncho Villa style."

We all know what a bandolero is sir.

In your article you cite the Dallas Morning News about what you call, "little used Swat teams", and their dangers.

Fact of the matter is, all SWAT teams are little used in the grand scheme of law enforcement. Nobody is a proponent of using ill-trained or under trained personel for dangerous assignments.

To suggest that the Collin County DA's Office resembles that picture you have painted in certainly...is not fact.

I do however have to admire the way you worked the furniture purchase into your SWAT article. The two seem to, "factually", be connected... somehow.

You have graciously asked Mrs. Varner to, "stick to the facts."

"Physician, heal thy self."

Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt. When all other reasoning fails... FUD the situation.

Sorry, Ms. Varner, I'm not buying it. I also don't appreciate a public servant telling me to stop "bitchin'."

Having said that and having worked with public safety budgets for the past 6 years I'm willing to give the you benefit of the doubt. Can you name one other DA's office that has this type of fire power? I'd like to do some research on the matter.

"Investigators assigned to the courts of this county work hand in hand with both prosecution and defense to bring about a just conclusion to each criminal case."

I hope all the defense attorneys will remember that when they need a witness subpoenaed. Just ask the DA investigator, because he's working hand in hand with you!

And the comments about the investigators not being in the courtroom are correct. They are rarely in there for an entire trial. They are nowhere to be found during docket. And they don't hangout during civil trials. Let's not act as though they are patrolling the courthouse.

But heaven forbid we don't get on our knees and thank the Roach Patrol for this. Thank you so much for spending $25,000 on this, instead of spending it somewhere that it can actually make a difference. Afterall, it's evidently the personal fund of "Judge" John Roach.

How many DA investigators come straight from the jail or other areas of law enforcement and have no real street experience?

JT, did you somehow forget that you, as an officer of the court have the same subpoena power that the State has, or do you just want someone else to do the work your charging the client, or the county for?

Mr. Barna: I do apologize. I should
have phrase my thoughts differently.

It appears that 2010 will be a long year. What will happen to all these weapons and toys when Roach leaves as the "Chief Law Enforcement Officer" of Collin County? The next DA might lock them in a closet until the next "CLEO" takes over as DA. Who will be our next CLEO?

It absolutely amazes me that the chief investigator for a DA's office with the better part of a million people is on a political blog telling everyone to stop "bitchi'n". I almost don't believe that is coming from the real Ms. Varner.

Truly... I'm shocked.

Now, I'm not saying that folks don't get upset, but, what it tells me when a top official has [redacted by Bill] to tell citizens to stop bitchin', without regret or care, that the office has been come too arrogant.

I quote a line in the movie 'V for Vendetta,' which said, "People should not be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people."

It is clear to me that the current district attorney's office has too much power, unchecked, and is hungry for more.

I've always tended to defer to the DA's own judgment as to the needs of his office. But, I'm not so sure anymore...

Roach has been steadily militarizing the DA's office since he took over, and after the incident when junior roach got shot in the face during a training exercise with the CCSO, maybe he decided that he should just have his own darn SWAT team.

If you have any doubts about why Roach does anything, its because he can! Check out the following quotes from today's DMN article about this issue when the commissioners dared question him about the riot gear:

"Its my money"
"I can spend it for anything my office requires, in my opinion"
"I don't see any problem"
"I've got a lot of good ideas other DA's don't do"
"I dont have any question in my mind"
"I'm the chief law enforcement officer in the county"

In other words, dont question the King's decisions, because, after all, he is the king! And for any who disagree - "Let them eat cake."

Bill is right to link it to the fancy furniture he bought last year, because just like that wastful extravagance, he has used this seizure money to further his own comfort and ego, and not to further the goals of law enforcement. How about helping out the CCSO, or Plano PD, or McKinney PD, or any other real law enforcement agency who is struggling through budget cuts by providing them training and equimpment and actual legal assistance? Instead of helping them his office has regularly alienated them for the last 8 years with his insufferable arrogance.

If this guy wasn't actually in power, his egotism would be funny. As it is, we all have to live with this despot for another year until he rides off into the New Mexico sunset, basking in the glow of his own deluded greatness.

I don't believe Ms. Varner's apology had been posted by Bill when I wrote my most recent post.

However, an apology doesn't make it all that better, anyway. To get on a political blog and fly off the handle like that demonstrates a certain.. lack of temperament.

I can imagine Ms. Varner having to stand on the courthouse steps and issue an apology to reporters saying that, although three folks were shot dead by the DA's SWAT team, perhaps the DA'a law enforcement could have "phrased their response differently".

Can you imagine if Bill Bilyeu (county administrator), Cynthia Jacobson (director of HR), a chief deputy constable, a top Lt. at the sheriff's office, or any other subordinate in the county telling citizens to stop bitchin'? They would be fired in a heart beat. Ms. Varner's actions show me that she's lacks the temperament to supervise a SWAT team, and that she has no fear of loosing her job because of fly-off-the-handle behavior towards citizens.

I have to admit that I've always had a great deal of respect for John R. Roach, Sr. I really have. I think he's had a marvelous career, and on the whole, served Collin County very well. I certainly don't always agree, but I do respect the man for serving as a district judge for decades, an appellate judge, and then 8 years as DA.

But, when service to the community approaches the line of totalitarianism, when when ego is no longer suppressed by the fear of re-election, when your subordinates become so entrenched in your coat tails that they become unaccountable - that, my friends, is the path to tyranny.

I do realize I can have subpoenas issued. I was really referring more to witnesses who the constables are unable (or unwilling) to put in the necessary effort to get them served. It's nice to know I can count on the DA investigators to work hand-in-hand with me.

There's a difference in having them issued and getting them served. Did you forget that?

I just love the way Roach and Varner think this is ok just because its not tax payor money. Why dont yall put this money up to hire another employee to push a few more cases in Collin County. Diddnt I pay you for the hours it took you to seize that drug money? Between drug money and your famous hot check slush fund you should come up something to benifit the county in some way and quit spending on useless stuff. Sheriff's department is right next door and probley 75 officers are there anyway.Good thing Roach is not running he would'nt win and he can take his cheif with him. Man I miss Tom

So let's arm a department that has already abused the Grand Jury process and made a mockery of the constitution.What wil Roach request next?maybe we can have public lynchings I bet a lot of other DAs offices haven't thought of that.Scary times imho.

JT - thank you for clarifiying the "subpoena power" issue. Most attorneys pay private process servers to serve subpoenas and citations. But if you are an indigent defendant, their attorney must use the constable to serve the subpoenas because there is no money to get it done privately.

And JT is right - it takes a loooong time to get service by the constable. The DA's office always gets priority when using them.


The only part I disagree with Tax Payer on is missing Tom O'Connell. O'Connell had the affair with Judge Holland that caused the appeals in the Hood death penalty case. He engaged in a lot of the same practices - except he did not arm his investigators with commando weapons.

Lets see, Sheriff patrol deputies supply their own sidearms and shotguns and rifles, plus ammo. They use their own cell phones to better protect us and we are going to spend $25K on a badge carring clerk, yes clerk and over paided at that. Supprot your deputies they would appreciate it.

Dear Not Blind,

Please don't try to mislead the reader by trying to make them believe that the patrol deputy buys his or her own ammo when they go to the range, or that the county doesn't own the shotguns and rifles that patrol cars are equipped with.

Please don't try to mislead the readers by saying that some deputies, all supervisors, and administration are not carrying fully paid for county cell phones. They are.

Patrol deputies have an option about sidearms. Consequently, they carry one of that they like and that they own. It is also a necessary job expense subject to tax write off, I would imagine.

Now, why don't you enlighten us on all you know about, "badge carrying clerks, and their over-paid salaries?"

We agree on one thing. Support your deputies.

Dear anonymous badge carrying 'visitor' clerk,

You are correct sir/ma'am, sheriff's deputies are given ammo at the range to qualify with twice a year. Then, after said deputy qualifies, he must then reload his weapon with his OWN ammo, that he bought, when he leaves the range. Not a big deal, but your statement is misleading.

Furthermore, deputies DO NOT have a choice when it comes to their sidearm or leather gear. Contrary to your belief, deputies aren't given the option of having a pistol issued to them. They must buy their sidearm and must buy specific leather gear from a specific place.

As for the rifles, sorry, there just aren't enough to go around so deputies usually buy their own rifles/shotguns and ammo.

The bigger issue is the fact that there are very few patrol deputies on the street, usually 5 to 6 per shift to cover the entire county. Should something catastrophic occur, the response from the sheriff's office will be light, lacking and insufficient. This is NOT the fault of the sheriff's department, it is the failure of the commissioners court to provide the sheriff with adequate funding so he can hire and equip more street officers.

If any of you think it's reasonable for a deputy to have to wait 20-30 minutes for a back-up unit when he responds to a call, then you better hope that it's not your emergency he's responding to.

Wake up people. There are more important issues to deal with here.

I have mostly enjoyed the conversation taking place on this forum, but it seems that there are so many half-truths being spewed that the conversation itself is becoming the focus point and detracting from the serious issues that many of the respondents have presented. So let me try to clarify some of these half-truths.
First, and of most recent utterance, is the bald face lie that patrol deputies have a choice to choose a departmental issued sidearm, or one of their preference. The Collin County Sheriff’s Office does NOT issue sidearms. Period. The only ammunition they provide is for qualification or training. The actual bullets carried within the gun meant to stop a deadly threat is purchased by the individual deputy, unless he can obtain some training ammunition (of less quality than that which can be purchased) to carry in his sidearm. There are a certain number of rifles that can be issued to some deputies; however, by no means equips even half of the patrol deputies with rifles. Any deputy not fortunate enough to be issued one of the few rifles must carry his own and provide his own ammo. They do have the opportunity to check out a shotgun prior to the beginning of their shift.
As far as the DA Investigators being over-paid clerks with guns, it may be a bit overstated: their salary is about right I think. Otherwise, the majority of these investigators are former small town cops, wash-outs, or rejects from other departments that have no practical law enforcement experience. I don’t think that is putting it harshly, I just think it is the truth. That is certainly not meant to take away from those investigators who have considerable experience and represent a minority of the unit. There exists a handful who are much more qualified to be chief investigator than the current head of that department, but I don’t want to be sidetracked with that issue. The fact of the matter is that these investigators resemble secretaries more than cops in regards to their job function and relying on them to provide services akin to SWAT is simply ludicrous. It is my belief that this issue has its origins in the small band of experienced investigators who long for the day of conducting actual police work attempting to recapture some of that long lost glory. The Chief Investigator has simply been hoodwinked into supporting this idea due to her naiveté in anything law enforcement related.
This brings me to the subject of Novaline. There really isn’t much to say here, because everyone knows she obtained her post because of her relationship with Judge Roach, not based on a single shred of law enforcement, much less investigative, experience. It is because of this that not much should be expected of her. Therefore, it is of no great surprise that the Chief Investigator posts “stop bitchin’” on a blog. She simply doesn’t know any better or have the experience required for her post. Since she should never have achieved her position, and should in all reality be terminated, and it is doubtful she would not voluntarily resign, she should at least be admonished for her iniquity. I hope Judge Roach has a place for her in retirement, because she has no future in law enforcement.
The truth in all of this is that the response to an active shooter at the courthouse needs to be addressed. In spite of their motivations, the DA Investigators proposing this Emergency Response Team are correct in assessing the need. The Sheriff’s Office personnel located at the courthouse is woefully inadequate to deal with such a threat. That should not detract from the argument that it is neither the place nor advantageous of the DA Investigators to assume responsibility for this. The fact is that all law enforcement personnel at the courthouse needs to fully trained in a response to an active shooter. It will not be a formal tactical plan or team that neutralizes an active shooter; it will be one or two individuals with guns moving to the threat. It will be over before anyone (from the DA’s ERT team, CCSO SWAT, or McKinney SWAT) can arrive to help. Columbine taught us that.
The real outrage here is why is the courthouse unprepared for this threat and why has the DA resolved to meet the threat themselves. The answer to that question has more to do with politics than threat assessment. The Sheriff’s Office has not taken it upon themselves to address the threat seriously, much in the same way it has not assumed responsibility for ensuring the safety of its citizens. It is woefully understaffed and lacks the capacity for proactive enforcement. The understaffing has resulted in a department that is not only unable to protect the citizens effectively; it represents a threat to its own deputies. The leaders of the Sheriff’s Office and County Commissioners Court are more concerned with keeping their jobs than doing their jobs. It has become an aberration of the conscience.
As painful as some of this is to hear, it remains the truth. The DA Investigators, while inadequate and inappropriate for the job, should be commended for their efforts. The leadership of Collin County would be wise to pay attention to the remarks in this blog because they are simply the opening of a fissure in county safety that will eventually tear a gaping wound into this community.

I would pay twice my taxes to see Greg Willis carry around a Remington Model 870 12 gauge shotgun.

This a.m. DMN confirms the fact that
the money thought to be used for
firearms, is in fact PUBLIC MONEY.
SEE; THE EDITORIAL PAGE...
After reading this thread, I dont believe the public is safe in the courthouse.

Is the purpose of any of this to make the courthouse a SAFE place,
or just an "armed encampment"?