Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced last week that Hill County Sheriff Hunter Barnes will be a panel member on the newly formed Law Enforcement Advisory Panel.
The panel will strengthen collaboration between the comptroller’s office and law enforcement leaders across Texas.
The group will advise the agency on implementation of key public safety grant programs and elevate matters impacting the law enforcement community that may require the attention of the comptroller or the agency’s Criminal Investigation Division.
“Texas depends on strong partnerships with the men and women who protect our communities every day,” Hancock said. “This advisory panel ensures we are hearing directly from law enforcement professionals as we administer critical grant programs and continue supporting public safety across our state.”
The panel will provide guidance on the Senate Bill 22 Rural Law Enforcement Grant Program, which supports recruitment, retention and equipment needs for rural sheriff’s offices and prosecutors such as district attorneys, as well as the Senate Bill 8 Sheriff’s Immigration Law Enforcement Grant Program, which assists counties participating in federal immigration enforcement agreements with personnel, training and operational costs.
Panel members will review program implementation, share best practices from the field and raise emerging issues facing Texas law enforcement agencies.
Hancock said that Sheriff Barnes brings hands-on experience in patrol operations, jail administration and community-centered policing across a rapidly growing Central Texas county.
Other panel members include Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn, Bee County Sheriff Randy Aguirre, Kendall County Sheriff Al Auxier, Jim Wells County Sheriff Joseph “Guy” Baker, Grayson County Sheriff William “Tony” Bennie, Taylor County Sheriff Ricky Bishop, Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland, Matagorda County Sheriff Richard DeLeon, Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle, Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne, Denton County Sheriff Tracy Murphree, Smith County District Attorney Jacob Putman, Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman and Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas.
Additional members may be added as the advisory panel continues to develop.
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