Press release
Vowing that his “campaign against crime has just begun,” on Thursday Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse reported after 30 days in office his Office has made 127 arrests, responded to 4,908 calls for service, and answered 3,328 calls for help and made a seamless transition in leadership.
“Cracking down, cleaning up and busting the criminals, my promised campaign on crime has begun and will not cease,” Hillhouse said. “There is more to come.”
“This is an exceptional Office,” he said. “Other law enforcement agencies have faced challenges and struggled, but this one excelled.”
“Consider this – the early retirement of a legendary Sheriff, election and appointment of his replacement, and changes in management and policies,” Hillhouse said. “That is what these investigators, deputies, detention officers, communication officers, and support staff faced at the beginning of the month.”
And their answer to these changes was clear: “They did their jobs, and did it very well,” Hillhouse said.
Hillhouse won the March Republican Party primary election for Sheriff. With no Democrat opponent, he was appointed to the Office by the Henderson County Commissioner’s Court effective June 1, when Sheriff Ray Nutt retired early to spend more time with his family.
“Sheriff Nutt knew he was leaving this Office in good hands, and the deputies recruited by us over the years proved that to be true are working incredibly hard at their jobs,” Hillhouse said. “This Office remains diligent, performing its primary mission – putting criminals behind bars.”
Arrests ranged from possession of illegal drugs, sexual assaults, assaults, burglary, theft, failure to appear, warrants, evading arrest, and public intoxication. Hillhouse also led a multi-agency manhunt that successfully arrested a wanted felon with a history of violence in the Cross Roads area.
“We’ve been busy doing our jobs,” Hillhouse said.
The arrests included 16 people suspected of dealing or possessing illegal drugs, primarily methamphetamines.
“My promised crack down on illegal drugs is real,” he said. “Criminals are getting the message that illegal drugs in any amount, large or small, will not be tolerated under my watch.”
People calling 911 for assistance ranged from late-night disagreements that escalated into fights, some medical emergencies, suspicious activity, and tips.
“People like to throw around the phrase ‘we’re here 24/7.’ In our case, it’s no slogan. We are really on watch every hour of every day. Unfortunately, the criminals don’t take time off, so neither do we,” Hillhouse said.