Topics

• Sheriff Herb Marshall
• Sheriff Bud Dennis
• Sheriff Bill Brooks
• Sheriff Kenneth McKee
• Undercover Narcotics

I became a member of the Washington County, Arkansas Sheriff's Department February 16, 1976 and because I was not from Washington County and was unknown in the area, I was immediately assigned as an undercover narcotics deputy. After six months, I came from undercover with much success and was assigned to dispatch until I could attend the Arkansas Law Enforcement Academy in December of 1976. Herbert Marshall of Elkins, Arkansas was the Sheriff, and with his support and encouragement, I was moved to the Criminal Investigation Division in April, 1977 assigned to LT. J. D. Snow of Springdale, Arkansas.

My early years in CID was busy with a lot of training. I attended just about every specialized school that became available, and I was sent in June of 1977 to New York where I was trained for a new lie detection unit call the Mark II Voice Analyzer which was a computer that measured stress in the voice to determine truthfulness. Ray Ward who was 20 years older than me and retired Navy hired into the department was my partner, and we worked many successfully investigations together. Lt. Snow left the department in 1979, and Ray was promoted to Captain and made Undersheriff, and I was promote to the rank of Sgt. above many more experienced officers and made headed the Criminal Investigation Division.

Sheriff Herbert Marshall 1975-1981

Sheriff Marshall was in my opinion a very good Sheriff. He would never put a Deputy in harms way, and he was always in the lead going through the door on a dangerous case. He was perhaps the most serious senior law enforcement I have known when it come to solving crime and most Washington County citizens don't know it, Sheriff Marshall brought the Washington County Sheriff's Department from a small untrained and unprofessional department into a modern and professional law enforcement agency era. He worked hard to expand the department, elevated the professionalism and training of his deputies, and create new programs and divisions like the Criminal Investigation Division to help prevent and solve crime. He deserves a honored place in the history of Washington County Sheriffs.

As you can tell, I like Sheriff Marshall and would have been pleased to serve him for many years. He worked so hard and spent so much time at being Sheriff that in my opinion it cost him his marriage, and because of this he went through some troubled personal times in 1980 which took a heavy toll on him both professionally and personally. Sadly, I  watched as he lost his family and his office. It was during the spring of 1980 that Sheriff Marshall, and I had a disagreement that resulted in my transfer as Dayshift Patrol Supervisor.

Sheriff Bud Dennis 1981- 1990

I held my patrol job for 8 months and watch as Sheriff Marshall was defeated in the fall election with Bud Dennis. After taking office in 1981 Sheriff Dennis returned me to Chief of Washington County's Criminal Investigations Division. I was a bit surprised of my rapid return to the job I felt I was most suited for and it seemed strange since I had only met Sheriff Dennis a few times when he was Captain at the Fayetteville Police Department. I did not know him well and normally a new Sheriff's would promote friends and comrades to a position of such importance. I think Bud was doing what a good Sheriff should do and looking out for the citizens.

Sheriff Dennis not only restored me to Chief Investigator but over the next 10 years I was promoted to Lt. and later to Captain outranked only by Major Bill Brooks and Major Clint Hutchins. The Criminal Investigation Division went from 3 to 8 personal and had an arrest and recovered rate unmatched before or now. Out of 14 homicides investigated or supervised by me during my 15 years all were cleared by arrest, but one was not brought to trial because we could not find the murder weapon, and Prosecutor Kim Smith would not take the suspect to court without it. During that time we had the highest drug seizure rate of all the counties in Arkansas.

I hold a great deal of respect for Sheriff Dennis, and he was probably an ideal Sheriff. He was smart enough to put talented people in the right positions to make the department run as it should. He on the other hand, took care of the politics that a modern day Sheriff's must do if they want to be re-elected.

Sheriff Dennis was not as demanding as Marshall, but he did expect the serious crimes like homicides to be solved. He knew it took experience, training, and time and did his best to provide the training, equipment, and overtime necessary. Like all of us, he did have his flaws and would probably be the first to tell you he had some "fat" within his department. He hired a few deputies that in my opinion were worthless and were on the payroll only to appease some powerful people in Washington County. Sadly I still see some continue to draw a paycheck from the Sheriff's Department today.

Sheriff Bill Brooks 1990-1991

Sheriff Dennis retired in May of 1990 and Major Bill Brooks was appointed to complete Dennis' term. 

Sheriff Kenneth McKee 1991-2000

In November of 1990 a retired Arkansas State Police Trouper was elected as Sheriff. January 1 after being sworn into office Sheriff McKee dismantled the Washington County Sheriff's Department Criminal Investigation Division that Sheriff Marshall created and Sheriff Dennis worked hard to build upon, and after 14 years and 10 months of service to the citizens of Washington County, I was "laid off" or retired at age 38 as a Sheriff's Deputy. One of my sergeants, the only female Investigator in the history of Washington County was also "laid off" without cause. Other investigators were assigned to jail or other duties.  McKee used less specialized patrol officers to investigate serious crimes in Washington County. That may account for why he had so many unsolved homicides to his credit.

At the time of my dismissal, in 1991, I was very upset because I was convinced and of the opinion then as I am now that my dismissal was just a political promise kept to appease some who dislike me or my methods and it had nothing to do with how I did my job. After getting over my madness, I realized how lucky I was because I don't think I could have worked for Sheriff McKee.

I take a great deal of satisfaction knowing that during eleven years on my watch as Chief Investigator for Washington County, no homicide when unsolved. Most of this credit goes to Sheriff Bud Dennis who was dedicated to solving crime, and he allowed me to hand pick, highly trained, and motivated group of Professional Investigators to man his Criminal Investigation Division. I take credit only of knowing how to best use the manpower and resources Sheriff Dennis placed in my care.