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Welcome to the Montague County Sheriff's Office Web site, a resource
designed for citizens and visitors who are seeking information about
this office and Montague County.

The office of sheriff is a constitutionally created office with duties
prescribed by the Texas legislature (Tex. Const. Art. V sec. 23). The
sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer for the county and is
elected every four years.

The sheriff has countywide jurisdiction, but in practice, most sheriffs'
offices concentrate their activities outside city limits where municipal
officers cannot operate.

The sheriff is responsible for operating the county jails, investigating
crimes, making arrests, enforcing traffic regulations on county roads
and maintaining security in both the county and district courts.

We patrol more than 900 square miles and are authorized to house
more than 100 inmates. We also provide dispatch services for several
local and State law enforcement agencies and over 14 local fire
departments in the county, as well as our own agency.

We believe in building partnerships with local, state and federal
agencies to help solve community problems, maximize
taxpayer-funded resources, and increase competence, integrity and
professionalism in law enforcement. We have an open agency, and I
encourage citizens to communicate problems, issues and concerns
with myself or any of my staff.

I believe that strong leadership, from the command staff on down
through the department, helps us succeed in our mission to provide
residents the services they expect from their Sheriff's Office and make
Montague County a better and safer place to raise families, and I am
honored to lead the men and women who daily risk their lives to
fulfill that mission. They are owed a tremendous debt of gratitude.

Please use this Web site for your benefit, and feel free to contact us if
you have any questions, concerns or suggestions.

Thank you,
Sheriff Paul Cunningham

Montague County Sheriff Office

Mission Statement
The Mission of the Montague County Sheriff's Office is to maintain
social order and provide professional law enforcement services to
citizens in the community, within prescribed ethical, budgetary, and
constitutional constraints. This Office strives to enforce the law and
maintain order in a fair and impartial manner, recognizing the need
for justice, and consistent appearance of justice. The Sheriff
recognizes that no law enforcement agency can operate at its
maximum potential without supportive input from the citizens it
serves. This Office actively solicits and encourages the cooperation of
all citizens to reduce and limit the opportunities for crime, and to
assist in bringing to justice those who break the law.

Objective Statements
The following objectives have been established to accomplish the
mission, within the budgetary and manpower constraints imposed on
the Office.

PROTECTION OF LIVES AND PROPERTY: To provide reasonable
and cost effective service that contributes to the preservation of life,
the protection of property, and the safety of the community.
MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER: To maintain peace and public
order in the context of a secure and well regulated detention
environment. To assist during times of natural or manmade disasters.
DETERRENCE, DETECTION, AND INVESTIGATION OF CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY: To reasonably deter crime through aggressive supervision
of inmates, and the establishment and maintenance of procedures,
timetables, and guidelines. To vigorously and effectively investigate
crime in the facility, and take corrective action that discourages
recurrences of this unacceptable behavior.
COMPLIANCE WITH ETHICAL STANDARDS AND
PROFESSIONALISM: To encourage and support integrity and
adherence to the professional standards of the Office by investigating
all complaints against staff personnel. To provide for the training
needs of deputies/officers and promote a high rate of proficiency in
deputies/officers of the Office.