Sabine Sheriff Aaron Mitchell has released the following statement to the Index concerning the Saturday, April 30, election for the renewal of a one-fourth of one percent sales tax for the Sheriff’s Office. If passed, the tax will run for 10 years.
Sheriff Mitchell’s statement follows:
“To the Citizens of Sabine Parish,
“I want to express my gratitude for the overwhelming support you have shown since electing me as your Sheriff. As you are aware, the field of law enforcement has never been more challenging. There are 696,644 fulltime law enforcement officers employed in the United States who are tasked with the duty of policing and protecting 332,278,200 citizens. We are expected to make all the right decisions in seconds, often under extremely stressful situations. I am very proud to call Sabine Parish my home, where law enforcement is appreciated and supported. I take very seriously the job of keeping our home a safe and beautiful place to live and raise our families.
“We have made many improvements to the Sheriff’s Office during the time I have been your Sheriff. We have focused much more on training, which produces more qualified and capable deputies. The best possible equipment has also been provided to deputies, who are working daily to keep Sabine Parish safe. Improvements in technology and the streamlining of many functions of the Sheriff’s Office have been made, including a free Sheriff’s Office app that can be downloaded to your smart device by searching Sabine Sheriff. The app provides up to date news and weather for our area as well as the locations and photographs of registered sex offenders living in Sabine Parish. The Detention Center has been vastly improved with a new camera system, better fencing, and restricted gate access, which has drastically cut down on illegal drugs and other contraband entering the facility. The Sabine Parish Tactical Narcotics Team has been recognized by the F.B.I. and Attorney General Jeff Landry for their efforts in fighting illegal drugs in Sabine Parish. Detectives as well as Patrol Deputies also play a major role in our efforts in keeping Sabine Parish safe.
“The Sheriff’s Office is currently in a stable financial position. Increased revenue collected due to the Haynesville Shale drilling operation in early 2010 allowed the Pattison administration to establish a revenue reserve fund to be used in times of hardship. This was mostly one-time money that provided a safety net for the Sheriff’s Office. As your Sheriff, I feel it is imperative that we maintain monies set aside for the continued operation of the Sheriff’s Office should we be faced with a catastrophic event. Like you and your family, the Sheriff’s Office continues to see increased costs on everything. Automobile insurance rates on our patrol fleet and service vehicles as well as fuel costs and repairs have all continued to increase. The rainy day fund has remained untouched under my administration, mainly due to growth in the parish and state-mandated property reassessments.
“On 4/30/22, a renewal tax for the Sheriff’s Office will be on the ballot in Sabine Parish. This is NOT A NEW TAX but must be voted on by the citizens every ten years. The tax is a 0.25% sales tax and generates a substantial portion of our budget. This tax is vital to continue improvements and services we now provide. The tax was originally passed to fund construction of the Sabine Parish Detention Center and has been continued to supplement operation of the jail as well as other areas of the Sheriff’s Office, including the School Resource Officer Program. I have no plans to ask for a new tax but do ask that you vote yes on this existing tax. I truly feel that we are making a difference in our Parish and ask that you help us continue the fight.
“It is my goal to have the most professional, modern, and well-trained Sheriff’s Office in the state. As I often say, I couldn’t do this job without your unwavering support.
“If you have any questions, my door is always open.
“Thank you,
“Sheriff Aaron Mitchell.”