There’s a new sheriff in town.
Since his victory in the Nov. 4 election, Bruce Pennington has been attending Saline County Quorum Court meetings and preparing for the county’s top law enforcement post. But the transition didn’t become official until the swearing in ceremony on New Year’s Day. Pennington, a Democrat, beat Republican contender James Ward in the race for sheriff. He succeeds former Sheriff Phil Mask, who held the position for eight years.
Pennington was at ease in the administrative offices on Friday. The changes yet to come are a reminder, however, that it is just the beginning of a new administration.
Some changes already have been implemented. Others likely will take a while. But county officials seem hopeful that Pennington, 57, will improve the department’s public image.
“I look forward to working with Sheriff Pennington,” County Judge Lanny Fite said. Fite presides over the Quorum Court, which makes the legislative decisions for the county. “So far my dealings with him have been good and I expect them to remain good,” Fite said.
Controversy between the sheriff’s office and Quorum Court have played out in the past. During the past couple of years, the main cause of friction was the jail. There have been complaints that inmates were being treated improperly and not getting the recommended amount of food on a daily basis. There were three deaths that occurred in the jail: two suicides, and the cause of the third death is not known, but foul play is not suspected.
The former jail administrator Lt. Hugh Gentry has retired and Pennington has promoted Sgt. Ray Pennington to succeed Gentry. Chief Deputy Bill Field will remain in his position and the captain position has been eliminated. Scotty Courtney, who was the captain, is now a lieutenant. Courtney will still perform duties he was already handling, such as dealing with the news media and public, but he now also will head education and training efforts for the department.
Courtney’s first goal is to improve the level of training for jailers.
Sheriff Pennington said his biggest challenge “will be the jail.” “I want inmates to be treated properly, but I have let them know that we won’t take a lot of grief. We’re running the jail, not the inmates. They have to adhere to our rules and regulations.
“Like with everyone, if they work with me, I’ll work with them.”
He said he looks forward to Courtney, 40, leading the training efforts for the jail staff.
Field, who has been chief deputy since 2000, said, “We can’t get better without education.”
Keeping up with training requirements and certifications “is now a priority,” Courtney added. “We know what our jobs are. The broad strokes haven’t changed,” he said, “but the details are changing.”
Courtney pointed out that although three deaths occurred at the jail, three attempts were stopped.
Ray Pennington, 60, has been working at the jail since 2000, mainly as a transportation officer. In 1983 and 1984, he was a reserve deputy.
“When the sheriff first asked me to take on the administrative position, I had to think about it,” he said. “It wasn’t an automatic decision. But after thinking about it, and I know it won’t be an easy job, I guaranteed him two years.”
He said he is “aware of what needs to be corrected in the jail, such as officer safety and on-the-job training.”
The sheriff said, “We’re going to operate like a business.” Field noted that operating the jail is like overseeing a $2.5 million business.
Following policy and procedure is the only way to run the jail, Lt. Pennington said. “There is no other way. Some people will like it, some won’t, but it will be done by the book.”
Numbers vary from day to day, but on Friday, the sheriff said the jail was housing 44 felons waiting transfer to an Arkansas Department of Correction facility; 46 people awaiting trial for felony charges; and 21 others in for other reasons.
Throughout the sheriff’s office, Pennington said all employees “will stay accountable because it reflect on me.”
He said he encourages those members of the public who have complaints to contact him at the office. At the same time, he said, it’s important to remember that he will investigate those complaints and not just take the complainant’s word. “I’ve already talked to someone and I had to remind her that she wasn’t in the jail when the alleged act happened and neither was I,” he said.
It all comes back to accountability, treating each other like human beings and working together, he noted on several occasions.
Jails are “difficult to operate and maintain,” Fite said. “And they’re costly.” He said the new sheriff has shown him some cost-saving plans. “I am hopeful he will implement these plans.”
Pennington said he plans to cut food costs by having a dietician at Saline Memorial Hospital design a proper caloric menu and buying items through state bids. “We’ll even go to the Hostess thrift store to buy bread and things if we need to,” he said.
The biggest cost to the jail has been medical expenses, in particular, visits to the emergency room.
Pennington said he plans to bring in two physicians, eight registered nurses and a paramedic at no cost to the county. They would be special reserve deputies, he added, noting things aren’t finalized and their names could not be released. However, he said he thinks the plan will work out and the medical staff would visit twice weekly or as needed.
“This would cut down on emergency room visits,” he said.
Asked how the staff would work at no cost to the county, Pennington said they would volunteer their time.
Complaints have been made to the **Courier that people arrested for the first time were unfairly treated by jail staff. For example, one woman who was arrested last May said she wasn’t even given the right to make a phone call.
Pennington said he can’t change what has happened in the past, but he will hold all employees accountable and doesn’t condone such actions. Instead of being hired and never trained, Pennington said jailers and all employees will be trained immediately after being hired. “If we hire them, then train them, they will stay,” he said.
“I want to instill in the staff to treat everyone like they want to be treated.”
Another problem that has come to the new sheriff’s attention is visitors to the jail not knowing how the visitation process works.
Pennington said a brochure is being developed for visitors who have a loved one or friend in jail. It will answer all of their “frequently-asked questions” and be beneficial to them and the facility, he said.
Field, 63, said he’s worked alongside the sheriff for 18 years.
“I know his caliber and he has wonderful ideas,” the chief deputy said. “I look forward to seeing them come into fruition.”
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