Ron Stovall
Miller County sheriff
Biographical
Spouse and children: Married to Veronica. We have two children, Shane and Shannon, and a grandson, Nick.
Age: 70
Years a Miller County resident: 15
Political party:
Republican
Highlight your top three degrees and/or educational achievements:
I hold a degree in criminal justice, a senior certificate in Arkansas Law Enforcement and I am a graduate of the 183 Session of the prestigious FBI National Academy. List your current job and employer and your top three occupational achievements: I work on an accreditation program for the Texarkana, Ark., police.
I served as sheriff of Miller County from 2009-16.
I served 36 years with the Arkansas State Police, retiring as captain.
I developed a professional sheriff’s office and transitioned the jail from a burden on the taxpayers to a financially sound facility.
Highlight the top three examples of your civic or community service:
I am an active member of First United Methodist Church in Texarkana, Ark., and serve on the Board of Trustees.
I am a member of the Rotary Club, Arkansas State Police Foundation, American Legion and Marine Corps League, and I am a 32nd-degree Mason.
I have served on numerous local and state boards and committees.
Highlight the top three examples of your political experience:
I was elected sheriff by the citizens of Miller County in 2008, serving eight years, from 2009-16.
I served with the Arkansas State Police for 36 years.
I partnered with local, state and
federal agencies to ensure the law enforcement and public safety needs in our county and state were met. Political
Why did you run for office?
As a professional law enforcement officer, I have the training, experience, passion and ability to serve in a manner that is expected from the citizens of Miller County for the next four years.
What are your top three goals, if elected?
As demonstrated by my previous years as your sheriff. I inherited an agency and correctional facility that was not functional. It was an embarrassment to the citizens and county. I want to remind citizens the condition of the jail and sheriff’s office was in, and in my tenure, every deficiency was corrected.
What are the three greatest issues facing the county?
Drugs and thefts continue to be a problem. In today’s environment with active shooters and other criminals targeting specific areas, I commit to have trained deputies in and near schools, churches and events. I will commit to an effort with the prosecutor’s office and other law enforcement agencies in forming a major crimes unit.
What do you propose to address these?
Coordination with other law enforcement agencies will provide more personnel, expertise and additional resources to address the crime issues we face. I will assign personnel and conduct programs to properly handle calls for service, investigations of criminal cases, civil process and jail operations.
To reduce the financial burden on taxpayers, I will seek federal and state grants for the purchase and acquisition of technology and equipment. This technology will allow the Sheriff’s Office to provide first-class service to the community.
I will work with the Quorum Court to address the needs of our citizens. The Issues
What items, if any, would you like to see deputies equipped with, such as protective gear, crime-solving equipment and body cameras or armor? How would you propose paying for these?
Deputies should have the most up-todate equipment available as they carry out their daily duties. Technology and equipment needs continuously change and need to be updated. I am committed to work towards getting needed equipment. This would be paid for through grants, normal budget processes and federal procurement.
How do you propose using manpower when deciding what and where to patrol?
As sheriff, the staff and I would use historical and real-time data to identify crime trends throughout Miller County. Reserves, drug task force, as well as crime watch committees would be utilized to address those issues.
How will you run the office when it comes to fiscal responsibility and accountability?
I will provide transparent services and operations in an efficient manner. The jail was previously a financial burden on the taxpayers. Under my administration, we brought the jail to a point where it was self-sustaining and met state and federal standards generating revenue which was placed in the general fund.
Some believe the pay for Miller County deputies is lower than neighboring law enforcement agencies’. Do you believe this, and if so, what steps would you take to improve the pay scale?
The salary is lower than other agencies in the area, and they deserve better pay for the dangers they face each day. I would work with the Quorum Court to increase salaries and would continue to ask for salary increases each year as I have done in the past.
What would be your strategies and protocol for operating the jail?
I would ask for salary increases. Training, a full staff and adhering to policy and procedure for successful jail operations. There are two correctional facilities in Miller County; consolidation could mean efficiency and a reduced tax burden. I will initiate dialog with the city of Texarkana and Quorum Court.