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ere’s a thought forValentine's Day:You can’t hold grudgesJust three Valentine’s Days ago, Childress Coin Sheriff Kevin Overstreet was firing poison* political arrows at 100th Judicial District At^j ney Randall Sims.Overstreet publicly endorsed Sims opponent in t election that year. The sheriff claimed Sims cut shor F eb 6, 1996. undercover drug operation so that publ ity from arrests might boost his chances in the Mar Democratic primary.“I don't like slashing anybody in the newspaper, h the truth is the truth, ' Overstreet said at the time ‘1 pulled this for political gain.’*One year later, the victorious Sims remained a tf get. Overstreet and others were involved in an efforttransfer some of Sims’ prosecutorial powers to t! county attorneys in the district that includes Carso Childress. Collingsworth. Donley and Hall counties.“The main thing people desire is prosecutions ai seeing these criminals brought to trial,” Overstre said. “We haven’t had a lot of trials in Childre County since he took office.Sims weathered that storm as well. He not onl maintained authority, he managed a $20,(XK) per yei pay raise. His critics became less vocal and Sin claimed the number of criminal dispositions in the di! trict began to rise.Some strange things have happened in this politic* arena since then. Some really strange things may b coming to light in the next few months. But perhap nothing is more interesting than the change in the rela tionship between Sims and Overstreet.By both men's accounts, they've established a pre fessional respect for one another. Overstreet said the don't go to each others' homes for dinner, but they’v learned to get along.“If you can t get along with the DA who files you cases, you're not going to get any cases filed, Over street said last week. “We re all on the same side. Wlt; all have one objective in mind. It's very important fo ihe sake of the public that we all get along and maklt; compromises and do the best job we can. You can’ hold grudges. You've got to forgive and go on.“The grudge Overstreet held against Sims dated bad to 1995 when Childress County Sheriff Reece Bowei resigned in mid-term.County commissioners appointed Chief Deput) Overstreet to succeed Bowen, but only after Sims triec to convince them another candidate would be a betteiwife.s “Kevin took it personal. Sims said.“I had a little bit of bitterness toward Randall, Overstreet admitted, “but time worked itself out.”T Apparently.A reporter called Sims last week and asked questions about a rumor linking Sims and Overstreet to an investigation against another law officer.Sims gave 5(X)-word answers to yes and no questions before denying the rumor. Two minutes later, Overstreet said Sims telephoned him and relayed the conversation.JuSt a few holidays ago, Overstreet and Sims would not have been imagined in such a scenario.Now, Overstreet claims he's developed political foes who are spreading false information about him because he's tried to work with Sims.As for the rumor related to the supposed investigation, Overstreet won't talk publicly about it. He won’t publicly address the trip he and Sims took to Texas Department of Public Safety headquarters in Austin last summer, either.Overstreet will say that he's sick of politics. And he wants to uphold the oath he took as a law officer to ‘protect the innocent against deception.”He'll be doing that elsewhere beginning next month. 9verstreet announced last week’s he’s leaving Chil-Iress to take a position in the Lubbock County Sher-ff s Department. He said he plans to enroll in night ilasses at Texas Tech University. He hopes to earn a jachelor s degree in criminal justice. He said he doubts le will ever seek election to any political office again.“Politics will really put a sour taste in your mouth,” le said. “There are some vindictive folks.”David Stevens is the Globe-News regional editor. He can be contacted at 1-800-92-4052
Newspaper Details
Amarillo Sunday News Globe
Amarillo, Texas, US
Sun, Feb 14, 1999
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Kevin O.
TX, USA 22 Jan 2020
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