Hopkins County sheriff, challenger tout devotion to community, experience in primary race
HOPKINS COUNTY, Texas (KLTV) - Hopkins County residents will decide who their sheriff will be with Tuesday’s primary election. Incumbent sheriff Lewis Tatum faces off against challenger Johnny Paul “JP” Moseley.
Tatum has worked full-time with his office since 1999 and served as sheriff since 2017. This would be his third term as sheriff should he be re-elected. Tatum said he’s “very committed to our community.”
“Our number one focus is on protecting the citizens and the property of Hopkins county, that we’re going to continue to do what we’ve been doing. We are very transparent in everything we do and we want to continue to be that way. We want the trust of the citizens.” said Tatum.
One accomplishment Tatum shared throughout his tenure is lowering the crime rate. Since 2005, he says the rate has dropped from 350 to 124 in 2022, averaging a 94 percent clearance rate.
“It’s the lowest it’s ever been. When other areas, the crime rate is rising.”
Another topic is the officer shortage. Tatum said they’ve worked to combat it through their different programs with certificate pay and step pay.
“With a 30 percent increase in salaries, we haven’t lost a deputy in numerous years to go to another agency, like what we used to, continuously train our officers and then they would leave.”
Moseley has a background in law enforcement via the Sulphur Springs Police Department and as a former special agent with U.S. Homeland Security. He retired in 2022 and is looking to serve his community again. He is touting his specific experience and brand of professionalism and knowledge to the role of sheriff.
“That’s what I want to bring to Hopkins County. Not saying it’s already here, I’m saying I want to bring my professionalism, my experience, and my knowledge to Hopkins County, to the deputies, to the citizens. I want them to know that justice is unbiased and justice is for everyone.”
Moseley has a different approach when it comes to recruitment and retention.
“There has to be other ways than just money to recruit and retain good people. And I think inclusiveness, I think showing the value of their worth, training and making them feel part of a solution.”
After Tuesday’s election, the winner of the Hopkins County sheriff race will not face a democratic opponent.
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