Jared Dockery, 41, is vying for the Hockley County Sheriff’s position.
Dockery is currently employed with the HCSO as a Lieutenant of Investigations.
It was not until Dockery was well in his 30s before beginning his career in law enforcement. After much prayer and discussion with his family, Dockery enrolled into the South Plains College Law Enforcement Academy.
Once enrolled, Dockery graduated as valedictorian and top cadet in his class. At that time, Dockery joined the South Plains College Police Department and began his career. Once current Hockley County Sheriff Ray Scifres took his position, he added several new positions to the department and was able to join the HCSO in 2017.
Dockery first began as a patrolman for the HCSO which included handling calls for service, bailiff duties and serving civil papers.
Following a few years into his career with Hockley County, a position opened in the investigative side of the department. Soon after, Dockery was promoted to investigator for two years before begin promoted to head of investigations. Overall, Dockery has roughly eight years of experience with the HCSO. He has obtained his TCOLE Instructor License, is a skeletal death investigator, crime scene investigator, taser instructor, sits on several school safety boards and conducts various trainings.
A Whitharral native, Dockery met his wife in the small town in 1998. The couple have two daughters attending Texas Tech and one son who is enrolled at Whitharral ISD.
When Scifres announced he would not be seeking a third term, Dockery began thinking about the next step in his career.
“Sheriff Scifres has done an amazing job from where we used to be even a decade ago and he has built a great foundation with what he have right now,” said Dockery. “When he decided to he was a two term guy, I fully respect it. It pushed forward my thinking about the progression of my career and made me really think about if this was something I really want to do.”
Dockery explained that he had several discussions with his wife and family and also prayed about the decision to place his candidacy.
“When he decided not to run, I decided that I think I am ready for this after spending my entire life here getting to know these people in the county,” said Dockery. “I’ve lived here, I love this county.”
Dockery explained that his success has not been accomplished by himself alone. He attributed much of his success to the individuals he has worked with while being at the HCSO and also highlighted how much he has learned from the individuals he has met throughout his career.
“There are definitely things that we need to approve upon and one of the benefits of me being working there is I get to see firsthand what those things are that needs to be improved upon,” said Dockery. “I am not a guy who wants to implement change for the sake of it. Change with purpose is beneficial. We have built to much to just throw that away.”
Dockery added that he is in a unique position if elected as he would still have eight months to learn and continue to work in his current position.
“The great thing about law enforcement is that I am learning something every day,” said Dockery. “I am sure the other candidates can feel this way as well with their experience as things are constantly changing within law enforcement. Learning is never truly finished in this profession.”
A general concern Dockery has heard throughout his time with the HCSO is the need for additional personnel. With the county currently having two patrol deputies working 12-hour shifts at a time, there is an extended time period for response when covering 900 square miles in Hockley County.
“We need more people not only for safety reasons but for being proactive,” explained Dockery. “The more people we have on the streets the more opportunity we have for traffic stops and drug interdiction.”
Dockery explained that there are a lot of facets the HCSO is responsible for which include the jail side of things.
“There are a lot of things the general public might not consider the department is responsible for such as the jail side of things,” said Dockery. “I often times call our jail staff the unsung heroes.”
Seeing the day-to-day operations the department is currently undergoing is another unique aspect Dockery is opened to.
“There are definitely things that I am not aware of that Sheriff Scifres is responsible for, but given the chance there are a lot things I am willing to learn to make Hockley County a safer place,” said Dockery. “Putting people in the right position is critical, but it is a team effort ranging from the our office to the DA’s and County office.”
The last thing Dockery touched on was building stronger relationships with citizens throughout Hockley County. Through his work over the years and living within the county, Dockery has become acquainted with numerous people, but doing the best job he can comes first.
“I love this county and I want what is best for it,” said Dockery. “There is always room for improvement. I don’t think any office is perfect.”
Dockery feels that experience is going to be one of the important factors in this race and highlighted his two opponents who have a lot of it. Additionally, Dockery acknowledged that his opponents have done great things in law enforcement from what he has heard.
“I think there is a difference between experience and the right experience,” said Dockery. “With me working with the Sheriff’s Office for eight years, I think I have the right experience. I know how these things work and I want to hit the ground running. I will continue to do that and I will not be a sheriff that sits behind a desk. I will be out there and be available to the citizens, but that comes along with having more personnel.”
Dockery added that the sheriff’s office is here for the citizens and assisting in what could be individuals worst day of their lives.