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Lavaca County approves LeadsOnline subscription, signs Operation Lone Star amendment and funds courtroom bailiffs
Summary
The court approved an investigation-subscription contract with LeadsOnline (CLEAR), agreed to add two police departments to the Operation Lone Star interlocal agreement, approved a bond for a new deputy investigator and authorized courthouse security funds to hire part-time off-duty bailiffs.
Lavaca County Commissioners approved several law-enforcement items at the June 2025 meeting: a subscription agreement with LeadsOnline (CLEAR) for investigative research, an amendment to the Operation Lone Star interlocal agreement adding two police departments, ratification of a bond for a new deputy investigator and use of courthouse security funds to hire part-time off-duty officers as courtroom bailiffs.
Sheriff described LeadsOnline (CLEAR) as a law-enforcement database and investigative tool used by federal, state and local agencies and said it will replace LexisNexis if approved. "It's a Google search on steroids," the Sheriff said. The Sheriff's office had negotiated a prorated fee for the remainder of the fiscal year of $776.50, with $3,106 budgeted for the next fiscal year and modest increases projected in subsequent years.
The court approved the investigation-subscription services agreement with LeadsOnline on a motion by Commissioner Precinct 4, seconded by Commissioner Precinct 3. The Sheriff said the department will discontinue the LexisNexis subscription if the LeadsOnline contract is approved.
The court also approved the eighth amendment to the interlocal cooperation agreement associated with Operation Lone Star, which adds Refirio Police Department and Kennedy Police Department to the Operation Lone Star partnership. The Sheriff said the Operation Lone Star task force will be in Lavaca County in force for several days and that the county had moved some jail inmates to Calhoun County in anticipation of arrests. The Sheriff reported cumulative enforcement activity and indicted cases, saying the county is "up to a 125 since January 1." The motion to approve the amendment was made by Commissioner Precinct 3 and seconded by Commissioner Precinct 4.
The court approved a bond for Manuel Franco, a third deputy investigator, by motion of Commissioner Precinct 2 and seconded by Precinct 1.
Separately, the court approved using courthouse security funds to hire part-time off-duty officers to serve as bailiffs under the general direction of the Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff and court discussed a longer-term plan to hire a small cadre of dedicated part-time courtroom-security officers to avoid using command staff and full-time deputies for courtroom duties; the court emphasized the goal of a consistent, trained bailiff cadre. On a motion by Commissioner Precinct 3, seconded by Commissioner Precinct 4, the court approved using the courthouse-security funds for that purpose.
Why this matters: the LeadsOnline contract affects investigative resources and subscription spending in the Sheriff's Office; the Operation Lone Star amendment brings additional task-force resources to county enforcement operations and may temporarily increase law-enforcement presence; using courthouse-security funds formalizes payment for dedicated courtroom bailiffs and aims to improve courtroom safety.
The court recorded no controversy on the motions; several items were described as operational necessities by the Sheriff and were approved by unanimous voice votes.
