Bobby Garmon in the News

Chief Deputy Mel Gideon grew up in Houston, Texas, where he attended Jeff Davis High School. After serving a three year enlistment in the U.S. Army, Chief Gideon was accepted and then graduated from Class #32 of the Houston Police Academy in February 1966. Like most Peace Officers who begin their career, Chief Gideon's first assignment with the Houston Police Department was in the Radio Patrol Division working midnights. While working midnights, Chief Gideon attended Sam Houston State University during the day and in May of 1974, graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. In 1977, Chief Gideon transferred to the Planning & Research Division of the Houston Police Department where he spent three years developing and writing policy and procedures, testing new police equipment and writing equipment grants for the department.Chief Gideon promoted out of Planning & Research to the position of Staff Supervisor in the East Patrol Division and ended his career of twenty three years with the Houston Police Department assigned to the Field Operations Command in 1988. Upon moving to the small ranching community of Doss in Gillespie County, newly elected Sheriff Milton Jung hired Chief Gideon as Chief Deputy in January 1989, where he is still employed today. With no break in his law enforcement career as indicated by Chief Gideon's retirement from the Houston Police Department on December 31st,1988 and his subsequent hiring by the Gillespie County Sheriff's Office on January 1st, 1989, Chief Deputy Mel Gideon has just completed his 40th year as a Texas Peace Officer. Chief Gideon has earned a Master Peace Officer License, an Instructor's License, and a Telecommunication License from TCLEOSE.

While serving in the U.S. Army in Numberg, Germany, Chief Gideon met and married his wife of forty-three years, Birgit. Chief Gideon and his wife Birgit have raised four sons and they are Henry, born in 1963, Raimund, born in 1965, Jeffery, born in 1970, and Matthew, born in 1972. All are now married and they have blessed Chief Gideon and Birgit with nine grandchildren, six granddaughters and three grandsons. They range in age from sixteen years old to seven months.

Chief Gideon joined the Texas Chief Deputies Association in February 1989 and has missed only one conference to this date. Chief Gideon is currently serving on the Board as a Director, a position he has been elected to several times. Chief Gideon has held numerous offices in the Association including Secretary, Treasurer, and he was President of the Association from 1991-1992. Chief Gideon hosted the Texas Chief Deputies Association Conference in Fredericksburg, Texas in 1994, and he currently serves on the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee for the Alamo Area Council of Governments and the Technology Committee for the Sheriff's Association of Texas.

For his dedicated service to the Great State of Texas as a Texas Peace Officer, the Texas Chief Deputies Association is privileged to name the Texas Chief Deputies Association Past President Award in honor of Chief Deputy Mel Gideon of Gillespie County. From this date forward the Texas Chief Deputies Association Past President award will be known as The Chief Mel Gideon President Award. God Bless Texas!

Top, left: Chief Deputy Mel Gideon. Top, right: Retired Chief Mel Gideon of Gillespie County presenting Outgoing President Chief George Arispe of Schleicher County with a Kimber Desert Warrior .45 caliber pistol and a letter of appreciation signed by the TCDA Board of Directors thanking Chief Arispe for his dedicated service to the Texas Chief Deputies Association. Bottom, left: Chief Gideon presenting a plaque to Chief Garmon. Bottom, right: Chief Gideon giving Chief Garmon the Kimgber .45 and the framed letter of appreciation.

After a three-year stint as a Montgomery County probation officer, Garmon joined the U.S. Marshals Service in 2009. Upon completing the training program, Garmon was assigned to McAllen where he handled a variety of duties, including fugitives warrants and civil process.

“Fugitives are an any-time type of work,” Garmon said. “You could be up at 3 a.m. or not get home until after midnight. It involves a lot of research and patience. Fugitives don’t stay put when they know someone is looking for them. They don’t want to go back to jail.”

Garmon also was assigned to civil process in which he served subpoenas, summons, and writs of execution to seize property based on court orders. In this capacity, he helped confiscate motorcycles from defendants who no longer met their financial responsibilities.

Several months ago, Garmon transferred to the Houston office, where he now served in federal courts. He aids in transporting prisoners to court for trial, sentencing and motions. He has been involved with several high profile cases, including kidnapping and gang trials.

“We want to make sure the environment is safe for the judges and the prisoners,” said Garmon. “You have to be alert and pay attention.”

Before joining the U.S. Marshals Service, Garmon was a probation officer, first serving a typical caseload with everything from petty theft to manslaughter, and later handling a specialized sex offender cases, which required more intensive monitoring.

Garmon, who graduated from Sam Houston with a degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in biology, credits the college with teaching him many of the skills he needs for his job. As a Bearkat football player, he learned professionalism and time management. He also met “genuinely good people,” including fellow students and faculty.

Garmon recently returned to Sam Houston State University to participate in “Real Talk with CJ,” an undergraduate lecture series given by real-life criminal justice professionals in the field. He provided information on programs available at the College of Criminal Justice to begin a career with the U.S. Marshals Service.

Garmon warned students that decision they make in high school and college can impact their careers later, citing the extensive background check done by his agency. It took him two years to get through the process.

“Hard work pays off, “ Garmon said.

The selections stemmed from high marks in academics, community services and performance, along with recommendations. The conference annually presents the $4,000 postgraduate scholarship awards to graduates selected by the C-USA Faculty Athletics Representatives and approved by the Board of Directors.

As a senior, Garmon started 10 games. He finished his career with 183 career tackles, 6.5 sacks and three interceptions, making an immediate impact to garner All-Freshman C-USA honors in 2006. He became team captain in 2009 and collected both the Jess Neely Award for top linebacker and Bloody Joe Davis award for spirit the same year.

Twice, he received the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Award and 2010 honor as Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

During his college career, Rice reached new heights. The Owls made their first postseason appearance in 45 years during Garmon's freshman year in the New Orleans Bowl. His junior year, Rice won its first postseason contest with a victory in the 2008 Texas Bowl. Rice totaled 10 victories that year, the schools' most in more than four decades, plus captured a share of the C-USA western division title.

"I wouldn't trade the experience for anything," said Garmon, who made 55 tackles and two sacks, plus broke up four passes his last collegiate season. "This set me up in position to do things others can't. Overall I got the best of both worlds -- to go to an institution great for academics and to play high-caliber teams -- Texas, UCLA, Florida -- and still get two rings."

The 22-year old, who is the son of Bobby and Cheryl Garmon, recently moved from Houston back to his hometown. He plans to relocate to Chicago -- he checked out the Windy City in June -- next month to get ready for law school.

Early in his college career, Garmon envisioned a professional career, though numerous injuries influenced his decision to end his playing days at Rice. He dealt with several joint injuries in high school, then in college suffered everything from a bruised lung to lacerated kidney and a concussion just last season against Navy.

"It's been a combination of going through injuries; I think my body needs a rest," he said. "I want to be able to play with my kids and be able to walk and not be assisted. If I didn't sustain a lot of those injuries, (playing professionally) would be one of my dreams."

Now Garmon gets a chance to lay down the law like the other two male members of his household. His father, who for the last seven years has been the Smith County Chief Deputy, recently announced his candidacy for Sheriff in 2012. His older brother, Robert Garmon, works as a deputy US Marshal.

"Watching (my father) in a position where he could serve the community and help people in need had a big impact," he said. "I'm going in with an open mind. There are a lot of things you can do with a law degree. …any profession you can think of needs a lawyer."

On Tuesday, Garmon received a "key to the county"—a first for Smith County—in recognition of 30 years with the county and an everyday commitment to his job and community.

More than 40 county staff members, most of them law enforcement officers, filled the benches inside the annex building and gave Garmon a standing ovation as the court presented him with a plaque and oversize skeleton key. Garmon, as usual, was all smiles.

"Nobody represents leadership more than this man," Smith said of Garmon. "He balances his position, family and church and is committed to the public, me and his job. I don't know how he does it."

Smith noted the many accomplishments of the man he hired as patrol deputy in 1980 who, Smith said, "didn't miss a single rung on the ladder" as he worked his way to chief deputy.

During his career, Garmon has served on numerous boards including the United Way, acted as president to several organizations including Tyler Jaycees, the Texas Chief Deputies Association and received peace officer awards including the Texas Chief Deputies Association Melvin Drum Award for professionalism and dedication.

Smith said everything in Garmon's life is driven by his positive outlook and attitude.

As chief deputy, Garmon oversees the day-to-day workings of the sheriff's office including 355 employees and between 800 and 1,000 prisoners, without complaint, Smith said. Smith said each day begins at 7 a.m. and ends around 9 p.m. with a phone conversation with Garmon.

Garmon first thanked God for putting him "where I needed to be," and then turned his appreciation toward the courtroom audience and employees who "put up with me for 30 years."

Garmon will also celebrate his 30-year-anniversary with his wife Cheryl in December. They have two sons, Robert, 27, and Terrance, 22.

He said growing up in the small town of Jasper instilled his work ethic and ability to deal with people. Garmon said he attempts to mentor young men, who need solid role models now more than ever.

"I'm very proud and humbled," Garmon said. "I put religion and family first and everything else just falls in place."

Smith said the sheriff's department has garnered state and national recognition and does not want to see his "life's work go to ruin" and will endorse Garmon.

"He is the only person who can carry the load," Smith said. "It's a high profile job and you better know what you're doing or it will eat you alive. Bobby knows what to do. He's been doing it."

Garmon, who hired on as a patrol officer in 1980, worked through the department ranks and has been chief deputy for the past seven years. He said his candidacy represents the opportunity for a smooth transition within the office, if elected.

Being sheriff is more than enforcing laws, Garmon said, and he believes his experience within the department, the jail, the courts system and the county qualify him as a good candidate.

"I know how to work the budget. I know the day-to-day duties. I know the staff and I know the community," Garmon said. "I have the knowledge and experience to lead the department."

Former district judge Cynthia Kent will act as campaign treasurer and said she would not support Garmon if he was not qualified to do the job.

Garmon attended Tyler Junior College, the East Texas Police Academy, earned a Master's Certificate in Law Enforcement and has more than 2,800 hours, of law enforcement and management training, according to his campaign.

He is past president of the Texas Chief Deputies Association; the East Texas Peace Officer's Association and Tyler Jaycees. Garmon has served on the board of directors of the Tyler Chamber of Commerce; United Way; Ebenezer Church and CASA of Texas.

He has been married to his wife Cheryl for 30 years. They have two sons, Robbie and Terrance. Robbie is a deputy U.S. Marshal and Terrance graduated from Rice this spring and is visiting law schools for graduate studies.

Garmon is likely to face challengers for the position.

One possible candidate, Donn Rust, a captain for Precinct 3 Constable Dustin Rust, announced in March 2009 he "has been asked, and accepted the challenging task of running for Smith County Sheriff."

Garmon said though he doesn't possess Sheriff Smith's public speaking abilities, people can expect the same hard work and dedication to his job he has shown.