IT’S ALL ABOUT... A safe, warm smile

Depending on WHY you are going into the Cass County Enforcement & Justice Center and Court House, located on Highway 8 in Linden, Texas, will undoubtedly set your mood and your thoughts for the day. Maybe you are going in just to pick up a new license tag, or possibly you might be going to court for whatever reason. If it’s court, are you simply on the jury, or did you do something to get hauled in to be on the stand for questioning?

What are you thinking and how do you feel as you go through the front door and approach the screening station? My first thought is usually, “did I leave my legal firearm in the car, or am I absentmindedly carrying it with me?” That’s always a concern as it’s a felony to “pack” in a building where a court house is located. As you become in tune to your surroundings and approach the screening structure, a smiling police officer greets you. His name is Robert Rothery, the Sheriff ’s Deputy assigned to court house security. He never seems to have a “bad” day, always cordial, polite, in an awesome mood and sports a wonderful warm smile. His persona is so consistent it was my objective to find out more about this young man and how he maintains such a pleasant even keel. Deputy Rothery has seen me several times recently so when I asked if he would let me write his story, he was extremely humble telling me there wasn’t too much to talk about! “However, Sir, everybody has a story and every story is different and interesting.” My main question was how did you get here and why? He’s fully armed, badged and listening to a police radio as he’s working; why isn’t he sitting in a police car on a beat? I was curious.

Deputy Rothery has seen me several times recently so when I asked if he would let me write his story, he was extremely humble telling me there wasn’t too much to talk about! “However, Sir, everybody has a story and every story is different and interesting.” My main question was how did you get here and why? He’s fully armed, badged and listening to a police radio as he’s working; why isn’t he sitting in a police car on a beat? I was curious.

He told me he was born in Mississippi, eventually moved to Tennessee with his folks, then to Cass County right before Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and started college. His dad made a career in the Navy of 30 years and without a doubt inspired his son into a position of service to the public and law enforcement. Prior to attending the police academy, he met and later married his lovely wife while actually attending. He’s not shy about his soulmate as he told me she’s now a local first grade teacher dedicated to teaching the truth and the basics, and raising their two kiddos; both girls.

Robert graduated from the academy in 2011 and went to work as a jailer in Cass County for 6 months. During that time a deputy retired and Robert decided he wanted to submit a resume to become a Deputy; which he did.

In September of 2021 Cass County moved the Tax Office from downtown Linden out to Highway 8. This building handles all aspects of taxes for the county including vehicle registration, boats and trailers, titles and property taxes. Since the tax office is a relatively new addition to the building, almost every single person that entered asked Deputy Rothery the exact same question…is this where I go for a license and where’s the office? While we were talking about his life, he continued to answer a multitude of questions from the public entering the building. In about 20 minutes he directed at least 30 people to the new office for license and title transfers. As they pass his security station through the scanner, they are asked to empty their pockets, checked for phone, keys, change and especially a knife or gun and bags are searched. If the walk-through beeps, the wand scanner is used to rescan the individual. He said people don’t like to be searched or scanned, it’s against human nature. Consequently, at times he has to explain why it’s important to be searched. It really is for your safety! I said, “I bet you can tell when someone walks in the door if they are OK or a potential troublemaker!” His reply was, “No you really can’t read a demeanor.” The example was a man that came in and shook his hand while we were chatting. The guy was a wellbuilt “work-out dude” all tatted up. In my mind he could have been a tough gang leader or with all the tattoos maybe a dude going down the wrong path and just coming out of court. Well, it turned out you really can’t go by appearances as he was a police officer! What a shock!

Robert said this building isn’t a very happy place for everybody. He feels his job is to assure safety to the public with his main goal being to lighten the mood. I asked if it ever got exciting and he had to pull his gun? He told me it never gets to that point. Sometimes it can be tense with heated moments but never physical, only verbal. As soon as a person walks in the door, his smile might be the expression that puts somebody in a better mood or alleviates a potential ill-intentioned plan for a later time. Calming and soothing the public with his genuine smile makes a huge difference. He told me, sometimes people just need a person to talk with and he happens to be the next one they see. He accommodates and listens. I said, “So you are a counselor?” and he said, “No just a good listener!” If he can brighten the day or make it better for the public, he feels an accomplishment. You can tell just by watching the people that come through the front door, their demeanor changes and softens as he begins to interface. Sometimes he would get a nice laugh out loud from a complete stranger! He really is amazing.

Back to discussing his position, he told me when he was transferred into security it was supposedly temporary. However, it became more permanent than was anticipated by all.

As a dedicated family-man he doesn’t miss a chance to be a dad. He never misses a weekend or holiday to spend time with his girls. In law enforcement and policing, our officers are always on call and it’s a rarity to have a regular family schedule with normal time off. Plus, you have to admit, it’s much safer working inside than in a squad car on the road. For that reason, the job being a Deputy in Security is perfect for a devoted husband and dad. Robert loves what he has been doing for the past 10+ years and it’s obvious that his safe warm smile is loved by the general public as they pass by him in a happier mood to deal with paying their taxes and face the laws of our lives. Deputy Rothery is making a difference!