CAL
July 15th, 2010, 09:40 PM
Sounds like she needs some seasoned folks to aid her on the LE side of the fence.
Beth Villarreal, the newest Dallas County constable, apologized Wednesday morning for her performance on her first day in office when she called a news conference, then left hurriedly without answering any questions.
"Yesterday, I was a little overwhelmed with the media," she said. "But that's something that I have to accept and grow with as I stay in this position."
Villarreal ran a low-key campaign and has at times appeared uncomfortable in her new public role. She appeared more confident and relaxed during Wednesday's news conference.
"I'm ready for the position. It's new, but I'm ready to take it by the horns," she said. "I know it's a different beast than what I'm used to, but I'm up for the challenge. The part that I'm not comfortable with, or the part that I have to get used to, is people wanting to know what I'm doing and how's it going."
Villarreal, 38, has little law enforcement experience and has spent little time in the public eye.
After she was sworn in Tuesday by Dallas County Judge Jim Foster, she convened a news conference. But as soon as reporters started asking questions, her supporters attempted to shout the reporters down. Aides instructed Villarreal not to answer any questions, and she was whisked away to a waiting pickup.
"We kind of went over that late last night, and it's not going to happen again," she said.
Villarreal, a former volunteer police officer from the small Ellis County community of Italy, defeated Precinct 5 Constable Jaime Cortes in the Democratic primary runoff last spring.
She takes over an office tainted by allegations of wrongdoing. Cortes is at the center of a wide-ranging investigation into corruption in Dallas County constables' offices and was facing forced removal from office by jury trial. After losing in the primary runoff, Cortes announced his resignation, effective Tuesday.
Villarreal was appointed to complete his term. She has no Republican opponent on the November ballot.
Towing halted
Foster said he was impressed with Villarreal's openness Wednesday and her willingness to improve the office. Cortes is the third consecutive Precinct 5 constable since 1997 to exit amid controversy that included allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
"She is doing her best from what I can tell," Foster said. "She's looking at employment practices and putting policies in place. That's what we've needed in that office for some time."
Villarreal spoke Wednesday at her Precinct 5 office, which covers parts of Oak Cliff and South Dallas.
She said that she has halted all towing of vehicles by her staff, and that 16 members of her traffic unit have been reassigned to handle warrants. A key focus of the continuing investigation into the constables' offices is their relationship with towing contractors.
"For right now, we are not going to practice traffic enforcement," she said.
Precinct 2 Constable Michael Gothard told his traffic deputies this spring to stop writing tickets and instead try to collect from scofflaws who owe the county money. Gothard said he may gradually phase out his traffic unit.
Most commissioners said last month that they favor eliminating the constable traffic units as part of massive budget cuts that are needed to close a budget shortfall.
Villarreal said she wants to build a solid relationship based on trust with her deputies.
"That is why we are making sure we are going to hire the best persons for those positions that are still not filled, so that where I lack in experience, as people have put it, that's where their experience comes in.
"It's going to require all of us working together."
Ban on off-duty jobs
Villarreal patiently answered all questions from reporters Wednesday, saying she plans to be accessible.
"During my campaign, I said I wanted to be transparent, and I do," she said. "I want to be accessible to the public."
She added: "We're going to keep rolling with it. We're going to hit bumps, a lot of bumps, but the thing is trying to keep it moving without hurting or jeopardizing what we need to do."
She said she has banned her deputies from working off-duty jobs at sexually oriented businesses that derive more than 51 percent of their revenue from liquor sales. She said she did not know what the prior policy was.
All Precinct 5 deputies were sworn in Wednesday morning. Many were transferred to different departments. Cortes' two highest-ranking officers, Ken Hines and Michael Hinojosa, have resigned.
Villarreal said that she had hired Martha Rand, a retired senior sergeant with the Dallas County Sheriff's Department, as her lieutenant. Rand, a 29-year veteran of the Sheriff's Department, started Wednesday.
Villarreal also said that Stephanie Hernandez, executive secretary to the Austin police chief, will serve on her transition team.
And she is considering hiring Mike Ramirez, a retired sheriff's deputy, as her chief deputy. That could be a problem, Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price said earlier, since Ramirez has a suit pending against the county. He and two others claim they were given unfavorable assignments by Sheriff Lupe Valdez, a Democrat, after they backed her Republican opponent in the 2008 election. The commissioners adopted a policy this year prohibiting the hiring of anyone who has a lawsuit pending against the county.
Villarreal said she is still learning the day-to-day operations of the office.
She said she had introduced herself and her transition team to her staff, but added: "There's a lot more to do."
She also said she had ordered an inventory of every vehicle and other equipment that constables have. "This is strictly for record-keeping," she said.
Although county commissioners are considering cutting traffic deputy positions to help close a large budget shortfall, Villarreal said she would try to save as many positions as possible.
"I would rather cut a vacant position than the actual person. But again, it goes down to what's best for this office," she said.
Of the voters who backed her over Cortes, she said: "The message I have for them is, give me a chance. They voted for me in hopes that I would restore order. ... I just ask for patience."
Staff writer Kevin Krause contributed to this report.
Link (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/crime/stories/DN-villareal_15met.ART0.Central.Edition1.29a3b7a.html )
Beth Villarreal, the newest Dallas County constable, apologized Wednesday morning for her performance on her first day in office when she called a news conference, then left hurriedly without answering any questions.
"Yesterday, I was a little overwhelmed with the media," she said. "But that's something that I have to accept and grow with as I stay in this position."
Villarreal ran a low-key campaign and has at times appeared uncomfortable in her new public role. She appeared more confident and relaxed during Wednesday's news conference.
"I'm ready for the position. It's new, but I'm ready to take it by the horns," she said. "I know it's a different beast than what I'm used to, but I'm up for the challenge. The part that I'm not comfortable with, or the part that I have to get used to, is people wanting to know what I'm doing and how's it going."
Villarreal, 38, has little law enforcement experience and has spent little time in the public eye.
After she was sworn in Tuesday by Dallas County Judge Jim Foster, she convened a news conference. But as soon as reporters started asking questions, her supporters attempted to shout the reporters down. Aides instructed Villarreal not to answer any questions, and she was whisked away to a waiting pickup.
"We kind of went over that late last night, and it's not going to happen again," she said.
Villarreal, a former volunteer police officer from the small Ellis County community of Italy, defeated Precinct 5 Constable Jaime Cortes in the Democratic primary runoff last spring.
She takes over an office tainted by allegations of wrongdoing. Cortes is at the center of a wide-ranging investigation into corruption in Dallas County constables' offices and was facing forced removal from office by jury trial. After losing in the primary runoff, Cortes announced his resignation, effective Tuesday.
Villarreal was appointed to complete his term. She has no Republican opponent on the November ballot.
Towing halted
Foster said he was impressed with Villarreal's openness Wednesday and her willingness to improve the office. Cortes is the third consecutive Precinct 5 constable since 1997 to exit amid controversy that included allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
"She is doing her best from what I can tell," Foster said. "She's looking at employment practices and putting policies in place. That's what we've needed in that office for some time."
Villarreal spoke Wednesday at her Precinct 5 office, which covers parts of Oak Cliff and South Dallas.
She said that she has halted all towing of vehicles by her staff, and that 16 members of her traffic unit have been reassigned to handle warrants. A key focus of the continuing investigation into the constables' offices is their relationship with towing contractors.
"For right now, we are not going to practice traffic enforcement," she said.
Precinct 2 Constable Michael Gothard told his traffic deputies this spring to stop writing tickets and instead try to collect from scofflaws who owe the county money. Gothard said he may gradually phase out his traffic unit.
Most commissioners said last month that they favor eliminating the constable traffic units as part of massive budget cuts that are needed to close a budget shortfall.
Villarreal said she wants to build a solid relationship based on trust with her deputies.
"That is why we are making sure we are going to hire the best persons for those positions that are still not filled, so that where I lack in experience, as people have put it, that's where their experience comes in.
"It's going to require all of us working together."
Ban on off-duty jobs
Villarreal patiently answered all questions from reporters Wednesday, saying she plans to be accessible.
"During my campaign, I said I wanted to be transparent, and I do," she said. "I want to be accessible to the public."
She added: "We're going to keep rolling with it. We're going to hit bumps, a lot of bumps, but the thing is trying to keep it moving without hurting or jeopardizing what we need to do."
She said she has banned her deputies from working off-duty jobs at sexually oriented businesses that derive more than 51 percent of their revenue from liquor sales. She said she did not know what the prior policy was.
All Precinct 5 deputies were sworn in Wednesday morning. Many were transferred to different departments. Cortes' two highest-ranking officers, Ken Hines and Michael Hinojosa, have resigned.
Villarreal said that she had hired Martha Rand, a retired senior sergeant with the Dallas County Sheriff's Department, as her lieutenant. Rand, a 29-year veteran of the Sheriff's Department, started Wednesday.
Villarreal also said that Stephanie Hernandez, executive secretary to the Austin police chief, will serve on her transition team.
And she is considering hiring Mike Ramirez, a retired sheriff's deputy, as her chief deputy. That could be a problem, Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price said earlier, since Ramirez has a suit pending against the county. He and two others claim they were given unfavorable assignments by Sheriff Lupe Valdez, a Democrat, after they backed her Republican opponent in the 2008 election. The commissioners adopted a policy this year prohibiting the hiring of anyone who has a lawsuit pending against the county.
Villarreal said she is still learning the day-to-day operations of the office.
She said she had introduced herself and her transition team to her staff, but added: "There's a lot more to do."
She also said she had ordered an inventory of every vehicle and other equipment that constables have. "This is strictly for record-keeping," she said.
Although county commissioners are considering cutting traffic deputy positions to help close a large budget shortfall, Villarreal said she would try to save as many positions as possible.
"I would rather cut a vacant position than the actual person. But again, it goes down to what's best for this office," she said.
Of the voters who backed her over Cortes, she said: "The message I have for them is, give me a chance. They voted for me in hopes that I would restore order. ... I just ask for patience."
Staff writer Kevin Krause contributed to this report.
Link (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/crime/stories/DN-villareal_15met.ART0.Central.Edition1.29a3b7a.html )