Commending the Leadership of El Paso County Sheriff Richard D. Wiles

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. ESCOBAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the 43 years of public service of Richard D. Wiles, Sheriff of El Paso County, and a distinguished law enforcement leader in our community.

Richard Wiles was raised in El Paso and is an Andress High School alum. After graduating, he joined the El Paso Police Department in 1982 and worked his way up the ranks from a Patrol Officer to Chief of Police. Wiles was elected Sheriff to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office in 2009 where he has made important improvements to the safety of our community.

As Sheriff, Wiles has significantly improved the technology and training that officers receive. Sheriff Wiles implemented the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) that works with Emergence Health Network (EHN) to respond to calls and aid high-risk situations that may involve a person suffering a behavioral or mental health crisis. Under this program, officers are learning how to respond to mental health cases and help divert people from our criminal justice system when appropriate.

Sheriff Wiles was also an outspoken leader following the deadly domestic terrorist shooting that happened on August 3, 2019. He stood up and called out the blatant racism that motivated an individual to drive hundreds of miles with the intention to kill immigrants and Hispanics. Sheriff Wiles understands the strength and significance of our diversity and has embraced it within the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.

He has robust knowledge of the criminal justice system both in theory and practice. He received his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of El Paso (UTEP) and earned his master's degree in criminal justice from Sul Ross State University. He also attended the Federal Bureau of lnvestigation's (FBI) National Academy and the Bill Blackwell Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas. Sheriff Wiles has always sought to be the best leader by continuously learning.

Today, it is my privilege to honor Sheriff Richard D. Wiles, thank him for his dedication, and wish him and his family the best upon his upcoming retirement.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source