Former police officer says he needs no chief deputy, can do both jobs
KINGWOOD — Sheriff Paul “Moe” Pritt said he’s looking forward to the next four years as sheriff.
Pritt, who was recently elected Preston County sheriff, spent more than 27 years as a police officer in Preston County. He also served as chief deputy under Sheriff Dan Loughrie for eight years.
“I hope we can make some great strides and keep the office moving forward and keep the community safe,” he said.
He said his goal is to have an efficient, accountable, successful law enforcement agency.
“It might be unrealistic, but our goal is to solve every crime, whether it takes two minutes or years, we’ll keep driving at it,” Pritt said.
He said he doesn’t have any immediate plans to make big changes to the department.
“I’m evaluating personnel and might move some of the deputies around in an effort to make the department more efficient,” Pritt said. “I’m seeing if there is anything else we can do. I believe we can tweak a few things.”
He said he’s not going to have a chief deputy.
“I was chief deputy for eight years,” he said. “I believe I can multitask and do both jobs.”
Pritt said not having a chief deputy theoretically leaves an open position to hire another deputy.
“I’m not saying I would never put someone in that position,” he said. “But hiring another deputy puts more boots on the ground.”
Pritt said he rarely takes a vacation and when he does, he is used to being called in to work.
“When I go on vacation, I stay at home for the most part,” he said. “Getting calls (called in for work) happens a lot to every deputy. We have guys on vacation and something bad happens, and they have to come out. We don’t have enough people to cover the county.”
Pritt said other sheriff’s departments with similar populations have 30 to 35 officers.
“We have less than 20,” he said. “People believe we have more than that. We spend a lot of time traveling to and from calls.”
Pritt said public attitude toward police officers is not the same as it was 20 years ago.
“People are not as reserved or respectful to police officers as they used to be,” he said.
Pritt said people who commit crimes sometimes don’t face severe enough consequences for their actions.
“Some people belong in jail. Not just run through the system 50 times,” he said. “Our legislators make the laws. we just make arrests and solve the crimes.”
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