New sheriff promises new style

In an information meeting Monday afternoon, Mississippi County Sheriff Dale Cook presented his philosophies and ideas to his staff at the Mississippi County Sheriff's Office and Jail in a gathering at Arkansas Northeastern College.

"It's a great honor and a humbling experience for me to be elected sheriff of Mississippi County," Cook said.

He told the staff that he plans to serve the county with "honesty, integrity and diligence" and hopes that everyone can work together.

"I plan to lead by example and hopefully earn your respect," he said.

The sheriff told everyone that they would soon have new uniforms and new badges. Personnel have long been unhappy with the "look" of the uniforms, Cook said.

"It looks too much like a UPS driver," he joked.

While he did not say what the new uniforms would be like, he added that deputies and investigators will also get new "brass" or badges and bars. The new ones will be of "higher quality," Cook said, and will be guaranteed for life.

The sheriff also announced the members of his immediate staff. Investigator Bobby Stabbs will now be chief deputy with the rank of major, Cook said.

Capt. Larry Robinson will continue to lead the criminal investigation division, and Capt. Larry Williams will continue to supervise the patrol deputies, Cook said.

Lt. Robb Rounsavall will remain in command of the county's Drug Task Force, while Capt. Clayburn Hicks will remain in charge at the jail.

The only new person coming into the sheriff's immediate staff is Lt. Andrew Harris, a retired state trooper with whom Cook has worked in the past. Harris will be in charge of administration, training and grants for the department, Cook said.

Nobody on staff has been terminated, he said. "I do not intend to terminate anyone, unless you don't do your job," he said.

"Our No. 1 mission is to protect and serve the citizens of this county," he said. He wants the department to concentrate on ridding the county of illegal drugs, which lead to thefts, robberies and other problems.

Among his other goals are to update the department's vehicles. The department has 39 vehicles and of those, 16 have more than 100,000 miles on them. The county's budget allows for the purchase of only five Dodge Chargers this year, he said.

The sheriff said he's hoping to make some changes and obtain some grant funds in order to purchase more vehicles. "I would like to get 19 new vehicles," he said.

Since Ford will not be manufacturing police cars in the future, Cook hopes to phase those in the county out of service.

Next year, he hopes to upgrade the firearms used by deputies to .45-caliber automatics. He and Harris will be using those, as they were awarded their own upon retirement from ASP.

Cook plans to get officers on the firing range more often, quarterly instead of yearly and hopes to get a firearms scenario test system so officers can practice in different situations.

A new training schedule will be devised and Cook asked that every employee tell their supervisor about training they need or want to receive so it can be included.

The sheriff also plans to equip every patrol car with a basic investigations kit, including fingerprint kit, camera and crime scene tape, to save time at a crime scene.

Cook is also interested in helping employees better themselves for the betterment of the county.

"I would like for everyone to have six hours of college English," the sheriff said. "It will make our reports and us look more professional, especially if we're preparing documents for court."

Cook urged all personnel to maintain a professional manner and attitude at all times.

"I know we all have nicknames and that's how we know each other," he said. "But let's try to address each other by rank and last name in front of people."

The sheriff warned personnel that he will be more strict to some.

"My management style is different," he said. "But it will be fair. I'm not going to pop the whip or stand over your shoulder all the time. I'm just saying that my management style may be different than what you've had in the past."

Cook said he is looking forward to working with all personnel of the department and to serving the citizens of Mississippi County. "I'm here to do a job, and with your help, I'll do it," he said to his staff.

dhilton@blythevillecourier.com