Sheriff Mike Allen seeks re-election

Sheriff Mike Allen seeks re-election

Allen brings service, experience to the position of county’s highestranking law officer

Who is Mike Allen? What qualifies me to keep my job?

I was first elected as your Sheriff in the 2010 Election and took office on January of 2011. I am finishing my fourth term. I won the first campaign in a four-person race by a 2to-1 margin without a runoff. I currently am serving my 38th year as a public law enforcement servant.

I am seeking my fifth term as your Crittenden County Sheriff. I am 58 Years old and have spent my entire adult life in Crittenden County in public service. I started my career serving the Johnson County Sheriff’s De-part-ment out of High School as a 911 Dispatcher and Jailer for my first year. In 1981 I moved to West Memphis and was hired by then Sheriff R.L. Simmons with the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department. I worked at the Sheriff’s Department in every capacity from Dispatcher to Jailer, to Uniform Patrol Deputy, to Criminal Investigator.

In 1988 the year my son was born I started my career as a Police Officer with the West Memphis Police Department. I worked my way up through the ranks being first promoted to Sergeant, then Lieutenant, then Captain, then Inspector and then appointed Assistant Chief of Police. I could have gone home and retired at an early age, but I’ve always had a passion for public service and I made a decision to run for the position of Sheriff with Sheriff Busby announcing his retirement.

After winning the election I started my building of the current Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department using my 38 years of experience. I have held almost every position of employment at the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department except Maintenance and Secretary and I know firsthand how to make things better. I am extremely proud of the direction of the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department and the employee’s that have made the Department what it is today. We have a very dedicated staff that has bought into my philosophy of public service and striving every day to make this department a department it’s citizens can be proud of.

I live in Crawfordsville, which is in the center of Crittenden County and am Married to Re-Donna (Reed) Allen, who was born and raised in West Memphis, the daughter of Myra and Vernie Reed, also of Crawfordsville. ReDonna is a public servant and is an elected Crawfordsville City Council person. We have one son who I am very proud of and he was born and raised in West Memphis and attended West Memphis Public Schools. He graduated in the top of his class of 2006 and was a standout football player and helped lead the West Memphis Blue Devils in 2005 to the State Football Championship game against Gus Malzahn and the Springdale Bulldogs. He went on to attend Arkansas State University where he graduated and went on to the University of Tennessee Dental College where he graduated and continued his education in Orthodontics. After a total of eleven years of college he is now Doctor Tyler Allen and is Married to Doctor Kendall (Payne) Allen DDS and they both practice in Knoxville, Tennessee.

I consider myself a proud Christian and have a strong relationship with my lord Jesus Christ. I am not the perfect Christian, but I’m better than I was yesterday. My wife and I are members and attend Three Trees Cowboy Church in Wynne.

I like to say I have been preparing for this job for almost four decades and I always have heard if you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life. I love serving the citizens of this county and I think I have been tested as a proven leader. I truly believe experience counts and I want to continue serving as your Sheriff. I feel I have been a Sheriff for all of the citizens of Crittenden County and want to thank you for your continued support. If you don’t know me, ask around. Ask your neighbor. I would like to say that in 38 Years of Law Enforcement that most people in Crittenden County know me and what I stand for. Vote to re-elect Mike Allen proven leadership to move Crittenden County forward.

Sincerely, Mike Allen, Crittenden County Sheriff