Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Otwell Still Concerned About County

Nevada County Sheriff Steve Otwell said he's as concerned about the county now as he was when he first ran for sheriff two years ago.

"I was born and raised here," he said. "Almost all of my friends are here, their children are here, my roots run deep in Nevada County."

He said the last 16 months have given him the opportunity to advance the office which is now five years ahead of schedule in preparing for the 21st century.

"I think everyone would agree,"he said, "if you don't have computers you're not ready for the 21st century." He said the NCSO secretary does her bookkeeping on a computer and the dispatcher also has one for tracking and gathering information for deputies in the field. The criminal investigation unit also has a new state-of-the-art system installed.

He said he made a commitment two years ago to help move the county forward to the future and feels he's done his share.

He said he's been true to his promise of working with other agencies to effectively fight crime and drugs in Nevada County, saying there has been 15 or 16 drug arrests made in the first 14 months he's been in office, with traffic stops and warrants. "No one can truthfully say this hasn't made an impact on drug activity in Nevada County. For the first time we'll soon be able to compile, store and retrieve information on criminal activity in the county. Everything the officers do will be on computer.

"Then we can show patterns as the data base is built up. This will help us concentrate our efforts in predicted areas. This is a vision at the NCSO."

He said he is not taking credit, but instead gives the credit to the Prescott Police Department, Prescott Police Chief Willie Latin, and other law enforcement agencies. "All I've seen to is maintaining a working relationship with all departments, sharing information and working together. We'll continue adding equipment. It's vital in the department's effort to move ahead.

"It's more important to look forward than back, and unlike other agencies, there will be times we make mistakes. We emphasize not being ashamed to make mistakes, it's human. We need to learn from them and not make the same ones again."

Otwell said he's restored and rebuilt the working relationship between the NCSO and Nevada County Rescue Unit along with the county's volunteer fire departments. All, he said, know they can go to the scene of an accident and tell what equipment needs to be sent.

His experience is the same it was two years ago when he first ran. He successfully completed a course for auxiliary officers. "I feel the 16 months in office, on-hand training and my record are my qualifications," he said. "I stand on my record.

"I made the commitment I want to go to the academy and I still have full intentions of going, but have not had the time. If I get reelected, I will have the office and all other areas lined out and running smoothly. Then I can take time to get certified. I want this for my own sake as well as the county's."

Twelve weeks, he said, is a long time to be out of the office. He said in the last election, after winning the runoff he had an independent candidate to contend with and couldn't attend the academy during the summer as he'd planned.

"There's no law saying a sheriff has to get training," Otwell said. "Still, it's something I want to do, if time and the opportunity will permit."

The NCSO, he said, is a public service job funded by the taxpayers. He said he's committed to having the NCSO work with people, all agencies and emergency units, while promoting peace and harmony.

He said he'd put the NCSO's success rate against that of any other first term sheriff in Arkansas on arrests made, fines collected and working with the courts and attorneys.

"A lot of good has happened," he said. "More is intended. There hasn't been time to get all done I planned due to time in court. We've had at least six weeks of jury trials to contend with. This shows I'm out working on cases and am involved.

"My record on drug arrests and the impact on drug activity in the county and working relationship with other departments speaks for itself."

He said he meets with other agencies to figure out what they can do by working together to ride the surrounding area of drugs. "There's no quick fix," he said. "If you don't have vision, there's no way you can anticipate or attempt to get rid of drugs."

Otwell and his wife, Vivian Allen Warren Otwell, have three children, Holly Beth, 13, Thomas Shane, 11, and Briana Leigh, 8. They attend the First Baptist Church of Emmet.

"I appreciate the people having trust and confidence in me two years ago though they had to go to the polls three times to get me elected. I'm aware of the commitments I made two years ago and have tried my best to fulfill them. I believe I've done so."

The sheriff's race is being contested with Otwell and Harold Vines as the candidates. The preferential party primary is Tuesday, May 19.