Jordan Goodwin, a Republican candidate for Texas County sheriff, shares information and answers questions before the August primary election.
Tell readers about yourself.
I started in law enforcement in my teens with the explorer’s program. Upon graduating high school, I entered service with the U.S. Army, where I served 12 years. I deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan performing 1,200 combat patrols to train the country’s police and provide security to high-ranking personnel. I left the Missouri National Guard in 2017 as a staff sergeant when I started my family. I came home in 2011 and went to the Missouri Sheriff’s Academy in 2012, gaining my POST license, working 12 years in different departments in southern Missouri. I continue to learn and grow my knowledge in the criminal justice field having my master’s degree and working toward my second master’s degree in the criminal justice and administration field. I always try to grow and expand myself. I have many instructor-level courses, DRE and K-9 handler. I wholeheartedly believe in proactive policing and community outreach. In the military, it is the same as in law enforcement, leading by example, getting out into the communities, getting rid of narcotics, working to protect and help individuals in cases, being seen in communities and being transparent.
What prompted you to run, or rerun for this position?
I worked in Texas County for the last six years, and during that time I helped to do a lot to alter the flow of narcotics in the areas where I worked. I worked to make a difference and have even been thanked by many I have arrested for changing their life, ending their addictions and pushing them to a different path. I feel there are many current problems in Texas County and the current sheriff of six years has done little to put the community first, in combating the narcotics issues, allowing those booked on felonies that are not violent to be booked and released, often committing more crimes, more time and man hours spent to find and rearrest. Looking at the 2023 and current NIBER reports by the state and knowledge, there seems to be little to no concern for what has been occurring since. Since seeing multiple deputies constantly hanging out in Houston, I would like to make a change to improve serving the community, lower response time, combat narcotics in the county and make a positive impact.
How do you plan to actively engage with our community throughout your term?
First and foremost, I will be out of the office and out on patrol, the same with the rest of the command staff. Yes, there will be days when administrator work will have to be performed, but when that is done, leading from the front, handing calls, making traffic stops, being out at events more than just PR events. I started as a police explorer and if possible, I would like to offer that to the youth who would be interested in an emergency service career. I would like to have town hall meetings to meet with the community to find out what the problems are in their area and how the sheriff’s office can help. Better engagement with the community with transparency with information on what’s going on in the community. Allowing the community to know what is going on instantly can help let everyone know to keep an eye out for someone, be careful in a certain area, offer prayers for and so much more. I would also like to start looking at helping to save money in certain areas in the sheriff’s office so the funds can be used to purchase up-to-date technology to help improve job performance.
What are your top three priorities for our locality, and how do you plan to address them?
Twenty-four hour coverage – Currently the sheriff’s department does not provide 24 hour coverage and this would aid in providing a better response time for deputies. It is not fair to the citizens in the outer parts of the county to have to wait an extended period when the deputies are in Houston. Training- There is no reason the knowledge and professionalism that exists in bigger agencies cannot exist here. In the last three years there have been two in custody deaths at the Texas County Jail. There was a potential school shooting in Success that was not properly handled by the sheriff’s department. Training with jail staff and deputies can help prevent future incidents like these as well as improve relations and how cases are worked. Eliminate the book and release process – This would save time and money for deputies to not have to relocate the offender upon release, help prevent further crimes and help keep the citizens safe while the person is being held on charges.