Fisher County Sheriff Allan Arnwine will officially be stepping down as the county’s chief law enforcement officer on Monday, May 10, when his filed resignation is set to come before the commissioners court next week.
Arnwine gave notice of his intent to resign from his position as sheriff in an official, mid-April letter to Fisher County Judge Ken Holt. “It has been my pleasure to serve as Sheriff, and I appreciate the support that you and the citizens of Fisher County have given me,” wrote Arnwine.
After almost a half-century of serving Fisher County as a state trooper and then County Sheriff, there is little disputing Alan Arnwine has done his fair share of protecting and serving. Minus the months upon months of applications, interviews, background checks coupled with intense training upon acceptance, Arnwine officially entered active law enforcement duty in November 1973 after graduating from the Texas Department of Public Service Trooper Academy.
While it is easy to think romantic notions about entering into law enforcement to serve the greater good or cultivating peace honor, Arnwine said he was simply drawn to the excitement. Admittedly, after about seven years he wished he had done something else.
A law enforcement career is riddled with highs and lows, and with more peaks than valleys, Arnwine continued to serve in DPS for another 23 years, officially retiring when he reached 50. He then took a month off before returning to the DPS to serve for over a decade more.
Arnwine was appointed to the position of Fisher County Sheriff in 2018 on the heels of former Sheriff H.T. Fillingim’s resignation that April after a series of controversial events within the department. Arnwine consulted with officials and offered an alternative candidate, but the court was unable to agree to the desired compensation.
Arnwine later recalled it was former Commissioner Scott Fagan that initially approached him, but he declined Fagan’s — and several other officials — requests. Only after considerable campaigning on behalf of the county did Arnwine finally agree and he expected it to be a temporary assignment.
What was originally anticipated to last a few months has turned into more than three years. “I'm ready, and it's time,” said Arnwine when speaking to the Chronicle last week, and he admitted to looking forward to more long-term retirement.
As county sheriff, he said his duties are far more encompassing today than they ever have been throughout his 48-year law enforcement career. While Arnwine was candid about his age being a factor, he was equally forthright with other factors in his decision to step away from his law enforcement career.
He shared concerns about younger officers that would either decide to step away or choose another career path altogether.
“Turn on the news in the morning. Tell me one morning that you don't turn on the news to Fox, CNN, or anybody and they're not hammering the police or reporting on the police being hammered. Listen to those people. They hate us,” said Arnwine. “It will make a lot of officers not come into the field... I mean, why would you?”
The growing disdain for law enforcement runs in parallel with another factor, which is increasing difficulty when attempting to hire law enforcement officers. Arnwine said the growing shortage of capable deputies coupled with the challenges of staffing a jail amidst a major health crisis would continue regardless.
Without question, Arnwine said the biggest challenge for his successor is going to be keeping a staff of capable employees. Who Arnwine’s successor might be is only speculation at this point but will no doubt result in closed-door deliberations on Monday to discuss possible options.
Arnwine said an equally difficult challenge for his successor is another factor in his decision to pursue retirement at this time. Regardless of the sheriff, dealing with the Fisher County Commissioners Court will be a continuously difficult aspect of maintaining an efficient law enforcement community.
With roughly 900 square miles of the county to monitor 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year is beyond challenging, and given the current staffing, Arnwine said there is no way the county can be monitored on a full-time basis.
“I tell you a full-time Deputy would do this county so much good, and I bet if you ask the people, I bet they would rather have another deputy than another full-time secretary at the courthouse,” said Arnwine.
Additionally, Arnwine said he tolerated the county’s low-wage because he was working hard to get his employees raises, but whoever replaces him deserves higher pay. “The sheriff needs a raise,” said Arnwine. “You shouldn't be making less than your deputies.”
Arnwine said that's the conflict faced when competing with those looking to pad their own budget at another’s expense. It was something that was true for himself when fighting for staff, facilities, equipment, or vehicles and would, no doubt, continue to be so for his successor.
“The people approving your budget are the ones making their own. There's plenty of room for problems there. Who do you think they are going to look out for first?” said Arnwine. “Although they might decide to put the sheriff in a better vehicle. The sheriff ought to at least drive a pickup as nice as the road hands.”
Courtroom battles aside, Arnwine said he feels he’s leaving the county better off than when he began. Although he admits community involvement would be the greatest asset to law enforcement and its overall effectiveness in Fisher County.
“If people were willing to help, it would help us; but that isn't the reason I’m leaving,” said Arnwine. “We've arrested a lot of people, and we've sent a lot of people to the pen in the last three years. It's not perfect by any means, and I won't claim that it is. It's just better than it was.”
The Fisher County Commissioners Court is expected to meet in its regular called meeting this upcoming Monday, May 10. Proceedings are held in the 32nd Judicial Courtroom at the Fisher County Courthouse in Roby. Those unable to attend in person can watch those proceedings live on the Double Mountain Chronicle Facebook Page.