To the citizens of Baxter County,
Sheriff John Montgomery is seeking his fourth term as Baxter County Sheriff. True to his campaign promise more than six years ago, Sheriff Montgomery has ensured that fairness and impartiality is enforced within the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office. He has applied his guiding principles of honesty, integrity, and professionalism to all aspects of law enforcement. With twenty years of law enforcement experience, he and his seasoned management team have transformed the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office into an organization of which the Baxter County citizens can be proud. Sheriff Montgomery says, “I believe everyone should be treated equally and fairly, regardless of their race, history, or social background. The officers know they can enforce the law equally to all concerned.”
During his tenure in office, Sheriff Montgomery has focused on these key areas:
Transparency – With an open door policy and a state-of-the-art website, the citizens have access to the inner workings and day-to-day operations of the Office. Utilizing email and social networking, citizens are kept informed via press releases, inmate rosters, sex offender status reports, and letters from the Sheriff and the Captain.
Underage Drinking – Prior to Sheriff Montgomery taking office there was a disturbing trend of alcohol-related fatalities of our youth. The Sheriff’s Office has aggressively attacked the problem by working with legislators to strengthen underage drinking laws and holding the establishments who sell alcohol to youth accountable. School officials note a significant drop in alcohol-related incidences with the school-age population.
Drug Enforcement – The Sheriff’s Office has increased drug enforcement activities by partnering with other law enforcement agencies and combining resources and intelligence. This has resulted in numerous arrests and seizures of drugs, assets, and money.
Revenue Recovery – A robust fine and restitution collection program has recovered significant dollars for Baxter County. The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Montgomery, was the first law enforcement agency in the state to garnish state income taxes in an effort to collect old fines and restitution. This effort along with other initiatives has resulted in over $900,000 in restitution collected and paid out to the citizens in just the past six years.
Detention Center – The Baxter County Detention Center is known for its ‘no frills’ operation. Sheriff Montgomery says, “We serve the same meals every day and we do not provide television, radio, or any other luxuries. Our jail is not the Holiday Inn. If you don’t like the accommodations, go somewhere else to break the law.”
Sheriff Montgomery is very proud of the organization and his officers and staff. “We have faced many difficult challenges in the past six years. We were the focus of national media attention because of the EDNAH dog incident (the largest animal cruelty case in the United States) and the shooting death of Officer Jim Sell and subsequent apprehension of his killer. Dealing with tornadoes, floods, and a crippling ice storm has truly tested our Office. Our officers and staff rose to the challenge, learning significant lessons with each and every disaster. We all worked together to quickly restore order and safety. I am extremely proud to be a part of this Office and the community.”
“I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish. The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office is recognized as one of the premier law enforcement agencies not only in this state, but nationally as well. The difference is the mindset of our people. The men and women of our department truly care about their Sheriff’s Office and the people they serve."
Sincerely yours,
Sheriff John Montgomery
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