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It's time for change: Les Bruce endorsed for county sheriff
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Our View: Candidate Endorsement
It's time for a change at the Taylor County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Jack Dieken needs to go.
The first step in making that a reality is for Taylor County voters to advance Republican primary challenger Les Bruce to the November general election.
The Abilene Reporter-News editorial advisory board met with Dieken and Bruce.
Dieken, 72, and sheriff of 15 years, is not adequately in touch with the department and its administration and has problems pointing to accomplishments directly attributable to him during his current term of office.
Yes, he is to be commended for how he helped build the department during his first two terms, and there is little denying some of the things he did -- including his founding of the Crimestoppers program nearly 30 years ago when he was with the Abilene Police Department.
He recently told a reporter that he "drifted" into law enforcement. It is the editorial opinion of the newspaper that he is "drifting" now, nearing the end of his career. This department is in need of a strong administrator and leader.
In an interview last week, he was unable to answer basic questions about starting salaries, number of employees, basic staffing issues in the department -- the average number of deputies on patrol, for example -- and a number of other issues that weren't too obscure for the top administrator to answer.
He cites a few victories: a juvenile officer added in 1994, a cybercrime program (2000) and a resource officer for county schools (2007).
There don't seem to be any major issues with crime or changes needed in law enforcement, although he would like AR-15s for his patrol officers.
To quote him, "The sheriff's office isn't broken, so why fix it?"
In 2007, TCSO made 2,685 vehicle stops. Only 173 citations were issued.
We understand officer discretion in handling cases, but 95.6 percent of the time that TCSO stops somebody it isn't for a reason that at least warrants a citation? That number seems more than a bit off and brings about questions of law enforcement philosophy.
There is a morale problem among the rank and file -- be it caused by pay, turnover or personnel decisions. Dieken says he has an open-door policy and has never heard a single complaint.
That's laughable in an organization of approximately 180 and seems removed on the part of Dieken.
Keyword: removed.
Dieken was late for his debate last week with challengers Bruce and Democrat Art Casarez. Two excuses were given. He forgot the time of the debate and dinner was ready -- more specifically, his wife offered him a second bowl of soup.
This is not a man who is serious about serving Taylor County.
Les Bruce, although inexperienced in administration, is serious about serving the residents of Taylor County. A narcotics officer with the Abilene police, he is an inveterate lawman who set his sights four and one-half years ago on becoming the next Taylor County sheriff.
He has spent a lot of time educating himself about the workings of the TCSO and studying the issues facing both the department and the county and has plausible answers for how he would handle a variety of situations -- from providing coverage in growing unincorporated areas to administration of the jail and its expansion.
The department, for example, is faced with both pay issues and a lack of qualified officers. Dieken has a system in place by which one may only become a patrol officer by serving as a jailer and moving up through the ranks. While Bruce is committed to advancement within the department, he also realizes that lateral transfers from other law enforcement agencies should be considered.
There is every indication that Bruce will knock down doors and prepare himself for anything that he hasn't already faced. He's no wallflower and has a healthy opinion of himself, but he is also self-aware and knows that he will need help and must mine the solid human resources that exist within the TCSO.
Finally, Bruce's current ties to the Abilene Police department and its seeming support of him (recent endorsement by the Abilene Police Officers Association) represent encouraging possibilities.
Please select Les Bruce as the Republican candidate for Taylor County Sheriff in the March 4 primary.
To learn more about Dieken and Bruce, see their responses to Reporter-News questionnaires and biographies, Page 10A.
Posted by won_hong_lo on February 17, 2008 at 2:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Reporter New make good call. Neighbor say time Deiken move over make room change. He sound tired out touch, Bruce still got fire left young nuff to make diffrence see it thru.
Deiken have good career, should call quit last election before thing go south on him.
Good luck Deiken thanx, better luck go to Bruce!
Posted by squid on February 17, 2008 at 6:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"He's no wallflower and has a healthy opinion of himself"
I hope readers don't interpret this as Les being conceited or boastful. I grew up with Les and have maintained a friendship with him for over 40 years. I've always thought if I could have my son emulate anyone I know, it would be Les.
Posted by Wraith on February 17, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know both Les and the current Sheriff. I think Les Bruce is what we need in the office now. When I speak to current TCSO workers, all of them say they want a change. I dont believe any of us are as qualified to know what the sheriffs office needs as much as the deputies, jailers, and other employees there. If you are thinking of who to vote for, ask one of them. But not in public.
Posted by Becka on February 17, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"He... has a healthy opinion of himself"
I would hope that he does. We sure don't need someone indecisive or with self-esteem problems running the SO. I want a Sheriff with confidence.
Posted by fisherman on February 17, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Taylor County Sheriff's Dept was here long before Jack Dieken. It will be here long after Jack Dieken. Jack did get some things changed for the better. A lot of what Jack Dieken brags about changing or updating would have been changed or updated even if a monkey had been sitting in office. Its called technology. If you talk to him you would think he invented the computer for the Sheriff Dept. 15 years ago probably %60-%70 percent of Sheriff Dept's didn't have computerized booking and record keeping systems. Right now you would be hard pressed to find one dept that does not have at least what Taylor County has. did Jack help all the other counties get more advanced to? Jack Dieken has not done much more than ride the ship on its original course that was set by real pioneering Sheriff's like John Middleton. Sheriff Middleton could be very course, but would put troops first and himself second, we don't have that now.
Also If you want a honest opinion of Major Graham and how the Jail runs, ask Democratic candidate Art Casarez. He worked at the Taylor County Jail for several months and I remember it did not take him long to see how dysfunctional it was and that was about 4-5 years ago.
Posted by johnqpublic on February 19, 2008 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sheriff Dieken is a very nice personable man. He is also ineffective, a sheriff in name only; a figurehead that has delegated away his power. He doesn’t know many of his own policies. He puts his faith in what his jail administrator Kathy Lewis Graham tells him. Employees report feeling disenfranchised and alienated. I have personally observed harassment and mistreatment. One of the side-effects of this type of prolonged treatment is post-traumatic-stress-disorder and is frequently misdiagnosed. This type of treatment is costly in terms of usage of sick time (for anxiety, insomnia, headaches, depression, substance abuse, etc.), apathetic and dysfunctional officers as well as the turnover associated with this administration. I have also observed an air of desperation from officers because they have no recourse. Who are they going to complain to? They need their jobs. They stay as long as they can. Many do not leave with good feelings for the Department. This is not good business
Posted by fisherman on February 20, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The way I understand it, If Sheriff Dieken wins again he must work 1/2 of his term before he could leave and an appointment could be made. If he quits or cannot do his job before the 1/2 way mark then a special election would be held. Please if anyone knows different correct me.
What I have been told is Jack plans another win and then slowly move Kathy over to the Law Enforcement side. A gradual transition. And he would just "be out of town" ALOT. Remember he punches no time clock. Kathy is next in command by policy so she would field all his questions and situations. after 2 years Jack would go to the commissioners announce he is retiring, and that due to his being out of town a lot Kathy has been filling in. Jack would recommend Kathy as interim Sheriff. She is supported now by 2 of the current commissioners and the county judge. They would easily vote her interim.
If you think this idea is far fetched, then consider this; why would Jack name Kathy as his second in command if he becomes incapacitated? Here is a scenario. Jack becomes ill and cannot come to work, Kathy is in charge. A county wide disaster occurs. Flood, tornado, terrorist attack at Dyess, whatever. There would be alot of emergency issues in the county that Patrol, Warrants and other Deputies must respond to. So why would it make sense to leave a person with NO experience in any street duties as commander? And when I say NO experience, I mean zero. Not one arrest, not one citation, not a single call for service. Yet she is qualified to run the entire dept? Sounds like favoritism on Jacks part to leave her in command, not the County's best intrest.
Posted by erin1bstmom on April 29, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Due to the fact that Sheriff Dieken is so.. well, not young, he still has the impression that this county is the same as it was thirty or forty years ago and that is far from the case. Gang violence, domestic violence and crimes against children are all things that you see on the news on a daily basis. Not to mention the ALL the drugs in this area. Apparently the quiet town from thirty years ago isn't so quiet anymore. I am a young mother of three and a home owner and because of the schools in Abilene and the types of kids in those schools, I put my foot down and refused to even look in Abilene for a new home for my husband and I to start our family. We live in the M.I.S.D out in Tye. I agree that Les Bruce would be best. I know a few of the Taylor County SOs and am proud to have them out here. They do a good job when they are needed and I think they would have an even greater impact in the rural peace keeping effort if Mr. Bruce was in charge.
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