The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office is receiving mixed reviews about a video posted of Sheriff Brad Norman cutting the patch off a deputy’s uniform after learning the deputy was accused of smuggling contraband into the prison.
Quadtavius Donalson, 24, was arrested on July 21 after he allegedly smuggled contraband into Wayne McCollum Detention Center, according to a press release from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office.
During questioning, Donalson allegedly confessed to the crime and was subsequently stripped of his detention officer uniform and arrested.
The press release was accompanied by a video of Norman cutting the patch off of Donalson and then helping Donalson remove his uniform. Norman tells Donalson in the video that he is a “disgrace to every person that wears that uniform.”
“You’re a disgrace to the citizens that you’re supposed to be serving,” the sheriff says as the video continues. “You don’t bring contraband into this jail and sell it to inmates. Not acceptable.”
Since the video was posted to Facebook on Saturday, it has received nearly 60,000 views on the social media site, and more than 850 people have commented.
In the comments, some watchers claimed posting the video amounted to overstepping by the sheriff’s office.
“After his internal affairs investigation a simple turn in your uniforms when your [sic] released from jail would do! No need to record,” wrote commenter Bri Lashae. “You just publicly humiliated him & arrested him. This is insane!”
Commenter Beth Guilliams added that the video is “a disgrace to Ellis County!!! Not the way AT ALL to handle this!!”
Others expressed support for how Norman dealt with the situation.
“Tell me you’ve never been in law enforcement without telling me you’ve never been in law enforcement… cutting his patch off and stripping his uniform is tradition,” commented Kris Wahl. “And if you’re upset at that, wait till you find out how the brotherhood he turned against will treat him.”
“We need more of these criminals being put on blast. Being a previous CO this makes the job harder and also not knowing who you can’t trust in these walls! Great job Sheriff,” wrote Mark Frazier.
Donalson is charged with a prohibited substance/item in a correction facility, a third-degree felony. His bond is currently set at $5,000.
Closer to home in Dallas, crime has continued to rise. Daily crime reports, now being released for the first time since May’s reported ransomware attack, show increases in murders and auto thefts. As of July 27, non-family homicides are up 12% year over year, and a total of 150 have been committed so far in 2023.
The Dallas Police Department is also experiencing a shortage of officers, with only 3,100 on staff — many fewer than the 4,000 needed to adequately manage Dallas’ crime, according to analysis from the City.
Some cities like Fort Worth have enacted dedicated crime units that help police crime hotspots. These units have helped keep crime rates significantly lower in the downtown part of the city compared to Downtown Dallas.