Gov. Greg Abbott shakes hands with Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith at the Texas Capitol in Austin in March 2024 after receiving a letter drafted by Smith on behalf of the Sheriffs Association of Texas in support of Operation Lone Star. (Office of Governor Abbott/Contributed Photo)

Smith County joined a statewide program aimed at strengthening collaboration among law enforcement entities across Texas.

“If I send personnel, or if I receive personnel from an agency that is in the agreement, once they come to help us and cross into Smith County … They can enforce every law we can without having us even there with them,” Sheriff Larry Smith said. “It’s going to be a game changer.”

At its meeting March 4, the Smith County commissioners court approved Operation Lone Star, which eliminates jurisdictional barriers, allowing law enforcement to collaborate on cases involving drugs, human trafficking, illegal immigration and other crimes.

So far, more than 50 sheriff’s offices and police departments have joined the agreement. Smith has been asked to recruit regional agencies, explaining the program’s purpose to generate interest among law enforcement.

The program covers domestic crimes as well as international drug and human trafficking. If a crime occurs in Smith County and has an impact on neighboring counties, law enforcement agencies can collaborate to address it.

“The one with the most information would be the lead agency,” Smith said.

Operation Lone Star has been something Smith has shown support for in the past. In March 2024, Smith drafted a letter signed by numerous Texas sheriffs expressing support for Operation Lone Star. Smith and other members of the state sheriffs’ association hand-delivered the letter to the capitol.

Jurisdictional challenges have long been an issue unless a task force is in place.

Even now, the East Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) unit faces limitations working in areas like Texarkana, where they lack authority. If Texarkana were to join the program, it would grant participating agencies jurisdiction to operate there.

“They would have jurisdiction here as well,” Smith said. “If you had to stop at the city limits or the county line, you’d never get anything done. Criminals are mobile.”

Smith County is a hub for law enforcement innovation, with Tyler home to one of two anti-gang centers in Northeast Texas. On Tuesday, the East Texas Anti-Gang Center gained approval to seek continued funding from the Governor’s Homeland Security Division.

By bringing representatives from federal, state and local law enforcement together in a dedicated facility at the East Texas TAG Center, agencies can work more efficiently, reducing miscommunication and duplicate investigations. The TAG grant also provides access to advanced technology that individual partner agencies might not be able to afford on their own.

A $588,521.16 grant funded by the Governor’s Public Safety Office/ Border Prosecution Division makes it possible for the Smith County Criminal District Attorney’s Border Prosecution Unit to work with East Texas TAG to focus on border-related crime cases.

The assistant criminal district attorney assigned to the Border Prosecution Unit will assist with legal advice, review affidavits relating to arrest warrants, search warrants, electronic surveillance, mobile tracking devices and stored communication in ongoing investigations.

Nearly all of the funds will be used for personnel salaries, with $7,000 allocated for training and travel, and a small portion, $2,888.18, designated for supplies and operating expenses.

Under the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policy on illegal immigration, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office entered into an agreement on Feb. 18, certifying deputies to perform immigration officer duties under ICE supervision as part of the 287(g) task force model.

Several residents voiced concerns during the meeting’s public comment portion, describing the fear and anxiety the program has caused their families.

Smith said the office would not conduct raids on churches, hospitals or schools, nor would it engage in racial profiling. An investigation happens only after a crime has been committed.

The department cannot officially begin implementing the task force model until selected officers complete the required training.

“It would seem to me this is the kind of collaboration that should go on anyway,” Commissioner Precinct 2 John Moore said.

Grant funding also helps prevent vehicle-related crimes, including burglaries, thefts and other related criminal activity.

The East Texas Auto Theft Task Force (ETATTF) secured hundreds of thousands of dollars through three grants from the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority.

This task force includes agencies from Texas Department of Public Safety, Smith, Henderson and Rusk counties, and the City of Tyler. Its coverage area spans 11 additional counties including Anderson, Camp, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Panola, Rains, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood.

One grant, totaling $185,804, was allocated for travel, supplies and direct operating expenses and equipment. The majority of the funds were used for equipment, including a ready-made pickup truck, four laptops with docking stations and a mobile unit that combines a standard radar speed display with an advanced license plate recognition system.

Another grant, totaling $665,702 with a cash match of $28,179, was used for professional and contract services, including investigators, two permanent personnel salaries and supplies such as fuel and fleet maintenance.

A third, awarded for $32,000, with a cash match of $1,333, was spent on license plate recognition system subscriptions.

While continuing to collaborate with law enforcement and secure funding for immigration and vehicle crime efforts, the commissioners also renewed funds for legal contracts with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).

Every seven years the county must renew its agreement with the DFPS to reimburse a portion of attorney contract fees for the 321st court and expenses for the local Child Protective Services division with the District Attorney.

In other business:

The commissioners court approved a resolution declaring Feb. 27 as “Veteran-Friendly Community Day” in Smith County.

The court also received the 2024 Annual Audit for Emergency Services District No. 1.

Utility line installation requests were received for various projects across the county: Brannon Corporation installed 15” and 10” sanitary sewer lines on County Roads 472 and 411 in Precinct 3; CenterPoint Energy performed a road bore for a service line on County Road 4232 in Precinct 4 and installed a service line on County Road 128 in Precinct 1; Jackson Water Supply Corporation installed a service line on County Road 26 in Precinct 3; Oncor Electric upgraded utility lines with pole replacements on County Road 4115 in Precinct 3; and Texas Land Company installed a service line on County Road 383 in Precinct 3.

The court also received a report on the Smith County Jail’s operations, inmate population, employee overtime and vacancies.