This past Wednesday, the Top ‘O Texas Republican Women held their monthly meeting that featured guest speaker Pampa Chief of Police Lance Richburg, and also in attendance were mayoral candidates Jimmy Chaney and Mike Borger, as well as City Commissioner Ward 1 candidate, Wendi Miller Horst.
While Lance provided insights on the police department and answered questions regarding serious matters about Pampa’s crime statistics and overall safety, he also generated laughter from the packed room as he delivered his own humorous experiences and stories with authenticity and conviction.
Questions that were asked and the answers provided are as follows:
We all know that the sheriff has been sick, but we haven’t heard anything about who’s running the sheriff’s office, so what is going on?
“Currently right now Chief Deputy JC Skinner is running the operations of the department while Big Mac is out. I did speak to his wife the other day and she said he is home and getting better, and we’re all praying for him. JC Skinner and the rest of the staff are doing the very best they can and we’re doing everything we can to work with them and help them and vice versa.”
One of the issues that I think has since been resolved is the police department and the sheriff’s office are now working together, but are they in regard to dispatch?
“Yes, our dispatch and communications division dispatch out EMS, fire, sheriff’s department, police department and anyone else that wants to jump on the radio. We have created a great communications avenue that works for everyone.”
What is the biggest challenge with the lack of officers?
“Pay does come into play there, but what we would like to do is get the kids right out of high school and get them into a criminal justice program until they’re of age to go to the Police Academy and just have local, homegrown folks who love and have roots in our community. Those are the folks that tend to stay a little longer, but sometimes it’s tough because of the salaries at places like Pantex or in Randall and Potter counties are higher than ours, but we are working on that right now.”
Do you all have bullet-proof vests?
“Yes ma’am, but I am currently not wearing one because didn’t think I needed one to come in here. Fortunately our District Attorney helps us out a lot with that, and the vests are good for about five years and after that we get a grant from the state where we will get brand new, really nice vests. But yes, all officers have vests with rifle plate carriers.”
In order to keep Pampa from being a stepping stone and your officers from leaving over pay and other things, what is the shortfall?
“Salary does play a part in that. We now have a great training program here where people from all over come to train and we’re really proud of that, and although our community is trying to grow and expand, there’s just not a market out there for those in their early 20s right now. We’re trying to meld our generation’s mindset in law enforcement and the newer mindsets to try to come to a place where we can still maintain our values that we hold important while also meet the needs of this younger generation. Progress creates progress, so when they see new restaurants pop up and new businesses or group hubs, the attraction of it to the younger generation will grow and they’ll want to be a part of this already cool community.”
What are the biggest criminal issues here in this area?
“So everyone is usually concerned about the drug and narcotics problem, but the way I gauge that is it’s not simply drug and narcotics arrests because that is not 100% reflective on what the problem might actually be. What I do gauge our drug and narcotics problem with is theft and burglaries because the higher your drug problem is, the higher the thefts and burglaries are. Currently our thefts and burglaries are almost non-existent and are at an acceptable level. Honestly, traffic is an issue to a degree with young kids hot roding and racing, but as far as crime, I hate to say it, but the biggest one is sexual assault of a child. We have an unacceptable rate of that, but we have a very high success rate on investigation closures, arrests and prosecutions. There are 22 active cases right now and that’s great compared to the 100 or so we’ve had before.”
What can the citizens of Pampa do to help the police department?
“We’ve never really reached out for anything or even thought about it, and but at some point could there be a bond or something like that they can help with and obviously we would show multiple presentations about where we are in regards to needs. But as far as support, I was telling my friends back home I have never seen a community like ours that supports our law enforcement officers. I just ask that you all pray for our officers because they have to see things no one should ever see.”
How does alcohol play a factor in our community with traffic accidents?
“We’ve had tragedies in this community where a minor was sold alcohol from a local store and got behind the wheel. In the youth, we do see more of the marijuana vape pens and marijuana use, but alcohol is more detrimental to the community. I do not like to set an officer outside of a bar and wait for someone to stumble out because we don’t interfere with the business because not all bars are bad. But we are very aware and try to enforce the law without imposing on the businesses.”
What are the greatest needs of the department right now?
“Staff, we are four short right now. We have some that we are trying to get into the academy right now.”
How are you advertising that you need more officers?
“We do a lot on social media and the TML, Texas Municipal League has a website that we post things on as well and we go speak at academies. We’ve gone all the way out to Dallas and Texoma and we’ve gone to South Plains College and Amarillo College.”
With the mayoral election coming up, how do you relate to a mayor?
“We just need someone who supports us and that doesn’t necessarily mean financially, it just means that as long as we’ve earned that support and we’re all doing what we are supposed to be doing, the person sitting in that seat supports us as well. All the other stuff will take care of itself.”
