This interview was recorded Wednesday, Oct. 6, at the Henderson County Justice Center.
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This week, Sheriff Botie Hillhouse discusses last week's game room raid, the new radio system, and this weekend's Pow Wow in Chandler.
I. Stats (:44)
There are currently 439 in the jail with 102 of those being out-of-county inmates.
II. Game Room Raid (1:27)
The Henderson County Sheriff's Office conducted a raid on a game room last Wednesday, Sept. 29. The game room was located between Payne Springs and Caney City.
"It was a very successful investigation," said Sheriff Hillhouse.
Deputies arrested five individuals on charges including gambling, engaging in organized crime activities, and manufacture of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). They also seized the motherboards from approximately 50 games and $65,000 cash.
Sheriff Hillhouse said an added benefit of this raid was that other game rooms shut down voluntarily after the raid.
"So focusing on this one game room is affecting other game rooms throughout the county," he said. "The ultimate goal is to get them gone."
III. Mobile Radios (7:53)
The process of installing mobile radios in county vehicles has been completed, according to Sheriff Hillhouse.
"It was quite an undertaking getting all the mobiles installed, but we finally finished that," he said.
Now, the county can start helping local fire departments and police departments get their equipment programmed and online.
Sheriff Hillhouse said the new digital communications system has performed better than he expected, and that is saying something.
"I never really dreamed that we would be able to pretty much cover the entire county on a portable radio and we're able to do that," he said. "The mobile radios have higher wattages so there's really nowhere in the county now that we can't talk back to dispatch."
IV. Chandler Pow Wow (11:42)
Saturday is the annual Chandler Pow Wow at Winchester Park. Sheriff Botie Hillhouse will be joined by District Attorney Jenny Palmer as they ride the Sheriff's Office BearCat in the parade.
"There are always lots and lots of people that come out to the Pow Wow," Sheriff Hillhouse said. "Lots of vendors."
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. Afterward, the Sheriff and DA will be at Winchester Park to enjoy the festivities. Stop by and say hello.
