The Gray County Commissioners met Tuesday morning for a regularly-scheduled meeting with Joe Wheeley absent.
During the meeting, the topic of the Gray County Sheriff’s Office weaponry and the classic 1928 Thompson machine gun was brought up and discussed.
GCSO chief deputy J.C. Skinner said he recognizes the desire of members of the commissioners court and of the public for the nostalgic firearm to be kept instead of traded in for credit for more firearms, but would still like to have the weaponry at the department upgraded.
“The rifles we have for our guys are older M16s, A1s and A2s and are fully automatic or three-round burst with 18-inch barrels and are not feasible for what we need,” Skinner said. “I wanted to give you these quotes so we can see if we can figure out what we need to do.”
Skinner pointed out that he and several other deputies use their own rifles when on patrol because that is what they are comfortable with but it becomes an issue when there is an officer-involved shooting.
“It (an officer-involved shooting) happened to me and you lose your rifle because the Texas Rangers take it for an investigation,” Skinner said. “It’s different to have to send off your own stuff.”
County judge Chris Porter pointed out that a local historian came forward and would like to spear-head an effort to help pay for more firearms for GCSO if it would mean keeping the old firearm in Pampa and on display.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing to have someone out in the public say I want to lead the charge to do this (help fund improved weaponry for GCSO),” Porter said.
“The last thing I want, God forbid it ever happens here, but my greatest fear on weaponry is that y’all will not have enough firepower to fight someone who has superior weapons.”
Haley said he didn’t like the idea of GCSO trying to defend themselves with weapons that are inadequate.
“I don’t like the idea of our sheriff’s deputies and sheriff’s department being out-gunned and if they’re not comfortable carrying these government-issued weapons, then I think we need to look into getting them equipped to properly defend themselves,” Haley said. “At the same time, that Tommy gun is historical and a part of our history. We feel pretty strongly we’d like to hang on to that. I’d like to help GCSO and the County get some help with that.”
Porter said he learned from a gentleman who came by with newspaper articles pertaining to when the County acquired the old firearm that said they were purchased in the event the infamous Bonnie and Clyde came to Pampa.
“They knew they didn’t have the weaponry to match and that’s when they looked at purchasing some Tommy guns,” Porter said. “They wanted to have something to match in case they (Bonnie and Clyde) rolled up into the County. It hasn’t changed in 100 years. The Sheriff’s Department still needs to be able to match force with force.”
This item was tabled so GCSO could have time to meet with the local historian and to raise funds for the new weaponry.
The Court also received a presentation from White Deer Land Museum curator Anita Gullett.
Gullett updated the Court on the various activities and changes at the Museum recently, including a number of field trips with students from across the area touring not just WDLM, but also the Freedom Museum U.S.A. and Woody Guthrie Folk Music Center.
Gullett also pointed out the changes in the names to the Annex, which is now Red River War 1874-85 Wing, and the add on, which is now the N-N Wing.
The commissioners also tabled the following item:
• Sheriff’s Office reserve deputy policy. This item was tabled because the Court wanted to look into how these volunteer deputies would be treated in regards to insurance and liability.
The commissioners approved the following items:
• Pay bills as approved by the County Auditor.
• Line item transfers.
• Budget amendments.
• Public Hearing at 9:00 a.m. regarding County and District Clerk Technology (Archive) Fund.
• Proclamation declaring October 6-12, 2019 National 4-H week.
• County Judge request to replace an employee.
• Request from Commissioner Precinct No. 2 to declare a 1974 4430 John Deere Tractor as surplus for a trade-in.
• Approving the continued receipt of the share of bingo prize fee from the Texas Lottery Commission.
• Dado hardware from Runbiz.
• Reappointment of Ms. Sharon Babbock to serve a two-year term on the Texas Panhandle Centers Behavioral and Development Health (TPC) Board of Trustees.
• Reappointment of Commissioner Jeff Haley to the Gray County Appraisal District Board of Directors.
• Declaring the Strata CTX28 Annex phone system as surplus.
