Dateline: February 16, 2006

Commissioners back sheriff's department

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

A Donley County man went to the Courthouse seeking satisfaction Monday morning but found none from county commissioners.

Doyle Littlefield addressed the regular session of the commissioners’ court and complained about a ticket he received for running a roadblock during the New Year’s Day wildfire that destroyed 21,000 acres in the northern part of the county.

The fire started near Littlefield’s residence on CR I; and as the fire raced to the east toward State Highway 70, he left his property to open gates for the firefighters. But when he tried to return to his home, he found a roadblock on the highway and a Donley County deputy refused to let him pass.

Littlefield’s home was safe, but he said he had no way of knowing that because of all the smoke.

“It’s a terrible thing to watch, as far as you know, everything you own burn down,” he told commissioners.

Littlefield said he went past the roadblock on foot once to close a gate to keep his cattle penned. He then drove around the roadblock to return to his home. Afterwards, acting on instructions from Sheriff Butch Blackburn, Littlefield was issued a citation for Failure to Obey a Lawful Order of Peace Officer and fined $121.

The fine has since been paid, but Littlefield asked the commissioners to take action against the sheriff.

“Is it your rule that the sheriff has that power to keep a landowner from his property?” Littlefield asked the court. “I don’t think that’s right, and I think the rule ought to be changed.”

County Judge Jack Hall said there was nothing the commissioners’ court could do.

“We don’t make rules for the sheriff,” Hall said. “The Constitution of the State of Texas is what governs his office and where his power derives.”

Littlefield responded that he still felt he received “the most unjust ticket [the sheriff] had ever given,” but Hall maintained that the sheriff was within his authority.

“I had earlier authorized the burn ban with the Texas Department of Transportation and the DPS,” Hall said. “TxDOT, the DPS, and the sheriff had control of this situation. It’s unfortunate, but it’s over and done, and we just need to move on.”

Commissioner Bob Trout also supported the sheriff’s actions.

“In a situation like this, the first thing is to save people’s lives and the second is to protect property,” Trout said.

Speaking to the Enterprise outside the meeting, Blackburn said the smoke that day was very thick and said that roadblocks were set up on both sides of the smoke. Littlefield ran the roadblock, and Blackburn personally told the deputy to issue the citation.

“If I’ve got a deputy on the highway with red and blue lights going and someone drives around them, we’re going to file on them. This is for their safety as well as the safety of the firemen,” Blackburn said. “I’m sorry he’s upset, but rules are rules.”