By Dean Crooks

 

My name is Dean Crooks and I am pleased to announce my candidacy for Orange County Judge.

I was born in Oklahoma City, Ok. but got to Texas as quickly as possible. As a young child, I lived in Galveston with my parents, brothers, and sisters. Our family moved to Port Arthur in 1976 where I was raised and graduated from Thomas Jefferson in 1988.

After graduation, I joined the U.S. Army and served as an intelligence analyst. I was stationed in Korea before earning a transfer to the National Security Agency. While there, I earned the Joint Services Achievement Medal for coordinating intelligence assets between the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps as well as civilian resources. I completed 4 years of active duty and 4 years in the inactive reserve and earned an honorable discharge from the Army.

After working briefly as a contract manager for a drug company, in Beaumont, I enrolled in the Lamar University Corrections Academy held in conjunction with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. After successfully completing this, I received a call to apply at the City of Beaumont Police Department.

I was hired in January of 1993 and successfully completed the police academy. I worked in patrol, the criminal investigation division, and briefly in narcotics. I was a field training officer, before being promoted to sergeant in 2003. I worked as a patrol sergeant and detective. I was promoted to lieutenant in 2011. I served as a watch commander and as the commander of the property crimes unit for Beaumont. I also served in the Emergency Operations Center for the City of Beaumont in several different capacities over the years. I was in charge of budgets and payroll in the police department and in charge of the finance division of the EOC. At different times I worked with every agency in our area including fire, EMS, the DA’s Office, as well as State and Federal agencies. I retired honorably from the Beaumont Police Department on December 31st, 2015.

My wife and I moved to Orange County in 1994 and, after 23 years, we still live in that same house today with our two children. Currently, I believe we are not going in the right direction here in Orange County. My reason in running is to look out for the interest of our citizens not the paycheck of politicians.  I would like to use what skills I have accumulated over the years to help my community and neighbors. Thanks you for your consideration for Orange County Judge.