Outgoing Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack was featured on FM Talk 106.5’s "Midday Mobile" with Sean Sullivan Thursday concerning his recent announcement that he will be leaving his post. He talked about his accomplishments, challenges and recommendations for who would take his place.
Mack will retire at the end of the summer to become the executive director of the Alabama Sheriff’s Association.
Since beginning his career in law enforcement in 1985, Mack said he has seen many changes. He started in Mobile with the Alabama Department of Forensics and became a Baldwin County deputy in 1989. He is currently in his fifth term as sheriff.
The population in Baldwin County has nearly tripled since his early days, and the number of tourists has increased significantly. Mack said he has worked year after year to keep the sheriff’s department up-to-date with the latest technology and strategies to deal with growth.
A big challenge Mack has dealt with over the years has been the evolution of drugs.
“We did have this past year of great concern, which we had almost triple the number of drug overdoses, and 90% of those were attributed to fentanyl,” Mack said. “So I can remember the day when we transitioned, it was crack cocaine, and then it went from crack cocaine to methamphetamine. Then heroin kind of started popping back up on the streets a few years ago simply because it was so cheap. And now we're transitioned over to fentanyl, and then fentanyl is being mixed with all the other drugs as well.”
Mental illness and autism are two other factors that Mack says have impacted deputies and training.
Now, with illegal immigration, Mack local agencies are dealing with a federal issue.
“We definitely see an increase of what we believe to be undocumented and illegal aliens,” Mack explained. “Unfortunately, there's very little that we can do about that at the local level. The federal government is the one that controls those things and enforces those things because they have nationwide jurisdiction and these people could typically flow from another country and then state to state. So, one of the things in our facility, we actually are an ICE temporary detention facility and they're brought to us within 72 hours.”
Mack said that even though undocumented aliens are evaluated, they are often released and given a court date to see an immigration judge. However, those court dates are set several years out, giving them years of criminal opportunity while waiting.
Mack recommended that Gov. Kay Ivey appoint Chief Deputy Anthony Lowery to the position of sheriff when he leaves. He said Lowery would be able to complete several projects in progress before the next election in 2026.
SEE ALSO: Baldwin County Commissioner Matt McKenzie puts name in hat for Sheriff
Mack said his proudest moves surround children’s programs such as the SRO program and Camp Shining Star.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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