Morse in re-election bid as Jackson County Sheriff

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse, a Democrat, is seeking re-election this fall during the general election.

Morse, 49, is running against Republican Bob McNicholas for the seat.

Morse was appointed sheriff in April 2011 and was elected to the position in November 2012.

Prior to his initial appointment, Morse served as the full-time chief of police for Onaga from 2006 to 2011.

He also previously served as a patrol supervisor for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and was a captain and paramedic for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. 

He’s served as a law enforcement officer in Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie counties.

Morse studied political science at The University of Kansas and public administration at Washburn University.

He completed the paramedic program at Coffeyville Community College, the Hutchinson Fire Academy at Hutchinson Community College and graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Academy.

He’s also completed training at the Kansas Sheriff’ School and the National Sheriff’s Institute, as well as other public safety programs.

Morse has lived continuously in Jackson County for 15 years. He and his wife, Melissa, have three children.

Why are you seeking election?

“I am seeking re-election as sheriff because I love what I do, and I love serving the great people of this county,” Morse said. “The people of Jackson County have been so great to work for, and as sheriff, there are many opportunities to help people in many different ways. I love working in law enforcement and providing those services to our community. I enjoy finding ways to overcome the many challenges we face each and every day. I am just as excited to come to work each day as I did on my first day five years ago. 

“We, in Jackson County, enjoy a great quality of life, however, due to our close proximity to a metropolitan area, we face the risk of losing that quality of life. We must be proactive in our law enforcement approach in reducing crime and interdicting criminals before they create new victims. 

“I am running for sheriff most of all because this is my home, too. I don’t want citizens afraid to leave for work because of fear of having their homes burglarized or of letting their children play outdoors.

“I want criminals to know that they are not welcome in Jackson County and that this is not a place to commit crimes. I see my job as sheriff as providing a quality service to our public, and I take this job very seriously. I have not wasted a single day since taking office in improving our efficiency and in making Jackson County safer.” 

The sheriff’s office and jail have one of the largest budgets in the county. Would you make any changes to the budget or do you have specific plans to keep it operating in the black?

“When I took over the operation of the jail, the jail was approximately half a million dollars in the red, for that year alone. I had to make some tough decisions in reducing costs and had to find ways to generate revenue,” Morse said.

Morse said he eliminated 10 positions at the jail and cut the vehicle fleet in half. He’s approved many needed repairs and updates to the jail’s facility and infrastructure and improved security. 

“Since taking over the operation of the jail, we have reduced jail spending by $1.5 million. Few elected officials have ever implemented such a self-imposed budget cut,” he said. “The jail went from being approximately half a million dollars in the hole a year to more than half $1 million a year in the black. Had we not acted by reducing spending and balancing the budget, the county today could have millions of dollars less worth of rock on the road then they presently have. Yes, the roads could be much worse.

“No one asked me to do it and no one even suggested it to me, I just did it because I knew it was the right thing to do for Jackson County.

“Within the year, the budget was in the black, and the jail will have generated an expected $1.8 million by the end of this year.”

To make the jail more marketable and to protect the inmates and liability, Morse said the jail recently become compliant with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), which has helped increase the jail’s inmate business with the U.S. Marshals and gain new contracts with the Kansas Department of Corrections and other agencies. 

The jail averages 100 inmates per day, and Morse said he and staff are constantly working to become more efficient.

“In 2015, more than $100,000 was generated by commissary sales to inmates. These monies are used to take care of the needs of inmates as opposed to taxpayers being responsible for their needs,” he said. “Revenue generated through inmate housing prevented the 2017 county budget from increasing an additional mill. Every sheriff’s office budget since I took office in 2011 has been balanced.”

Since he’s taken office, Morse said the officers have been more proactive on crime and reduced burglaries.

“In 2015, Atchison County had 205 adult arrests, Brown County 196, Jackson 661, Jefferson 208, Pottawatomie 529, Nemaha 132 and Shawnee had 367,” he said. “However, by being proactive, it has actually reduced our crime index. Jackson County has a lower crime index than any other county that surrounds the Topeka metropolitan area.  This is not to downgrade any other agency but to show the public how hard our deputies are working to keep the county safe.” 

Since Jackson County spans many rural miles, Morse said he’s implemented a vehicle rotational plan.

“This will save the county tens of thousands of dollars and yet provides safe and dependable equipment for our deputies,” he said. “As your sheriff, I will continue to be fiscally responsible. The numbers speak for themselves.”

The sheriff’s office works with a variety of other law enforcement agencies, as well as courts and other municipalities. How would you improve or continue those relationships if elected?

Since taking office, Morse said he’s built solid relationships with those agencies within Jackson County and the state, as well as across the country.

“I feel it is important to lead in supporting these various agencies.  I have led in meetings with these agencies to understand their needs and provide support to them,” he said. “I continually maintain open communications with other agencies and neighboring counties so that we all can serve our citizens better and more effectively.”

Morse said he’s built a solid relationship with those who work at the local courts, and his office provides a variety of services for them, including serving warrants, civil summons, subpoenas, foreclosures and criminal process.

The sheriff’s office is also responsible for selling properties that are found to be delinquent in taxes or defaults on their mortgage.

“If re-elected, I will continue to maintain the strong relationships that we have with other agencies and the courts,” he said.

The sheriff is also in charge of the Jackson County Jail. How have you or how will you continue to improve that facility?

“First of all, to be in charge of the jail and to improve the jail requires knowledge and experience in how a jail functions.  I am the only candidate that has any experience in working in or running a detention facility,” he said. “As most industries have become more developed and professional, so has the field of corrections. There is a lot to know about this system. Someone with no experience could quickly reverse all the progress we have made.”

Morse cited the many improvements already completed at the jail to make it safer and more marketable for out-of-county inmate housing. 

“Just recently, we received our Prison Rape Elimination Act certification. The addition of our correctional healthcare contract has reduced out of control medical costs and pharmaceutical costs for the county,” he said. “If I am re-elected, I will continue to make the jail as little of a burden as possible to taxpayers.”

Morse said it’s important to keep the operations at the jail as efficient as possible.

“We produce more revenue than most jails in the state. In order for the U.S. Marshal, the Kansas Secretary of Corrections or other sheriffs to do business with Jackson County, there must be trust in the sheriff operating the facility,” he said. “These individuals do not want to house prisoners where there will be issues. They want to know that the agency head is competent and experienced and is going to ensure that the constitutional rights of inmates are maintained.  If elected, I will continue to run a professional and constitutional jail.” 

Why do you believe you are qualified for this position?

“I believe I am the only candidate that is qualified and experienced for the office of sheriff,” he said. “I have served in public safety for 27 years. I have a decade’s worth of successful experience as the chief law enforcement officer of a community. I have served as a dispatcher, patrolman, supervisor, investigator, chief of police, jail administrator, communications center administrator and served successfully as sheriff for more than five years.

“I have patrolled every inch of this county and have investigated hundreds of cases and made hundreds of arrests.  I am the only candidate that has graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Academy and worked as a law enforcement officer.

“This job is not a retirement job, and it is not a job for a novice. I am the only candidate in this race for sheriff that has ever investigated a crime or even made an arrest. I know and understand the threats to the safety of Jackson County and have an ongoing plan in place to keep our citizens safe.”