The Ellis County Press: Q&A with new Ferris Police Chief Corbin McGrath

Q&A with new Ferris Police Chief Corbin McGrath
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Editor on 06/27/2008 15:07:00


The Ellis County Press recently sat down with new interim Ferris Police Chief
Corbin McGrath, a former city manager in Gun Barrel City in neighboring
Henderson County.
McGrath replaces - at least temporarily - Michael Braly, who resigned several
weeks ago to take a job in Irving.
Q: What are your goals for FPD?
A: Short-range goals. To see what the problems are in Ferris. If you are the
chief of police you have to know what is going on.
Q: At the city council meeting you mentioned the officers need more discipline.
What did you mean by that?
A: Well, discipline sounds like a probably hard word. They just need a little
more guidance. Somebody needs to make sure the rules are being followed. We
don't have a sergeant right now. I am the only command officer. The sergeant and
chief are usually the ones who make sure everything gets done.
Q: What do you recommend to boost morale?
A: Get to know the officers and be their to help them. They need backing from
the command officers. Physical and moral support. Command officers need to be
involved.
Q: Should the focus be more on collecting revenue on I-45 or patrolling more in
the city?
A: I don't put value on one or the other. You have to just try to catch it all.
You do preventive control. When you see police in a car you know they are
watching. When they see a police car, people will slow down. I don't put
emphasis on one or the other. I put it where the need is.
Q: What brought you to Ferris?
A:  City Manager. To fill in on a temporary basis.