‘She Never Stops’: A Veteran Investigator on Working With Kelley Crisp
by Scott Sartor
Criminal Investigator
I have been a police officer in the Bowie County area for 30+ years and a full-time criminal investigator more than 26 of those years. During my career I have had the privilege of working with prosecutors on the municipal, county, state and federal level. I have personally worked on more than 100 murder cases in the Texarkana area during that time. During that time, I have never seen a more focused, dedicated, conscientious and caring prosecutor as Ms. Kelley Crisp.
Fellow criminal investigators jokingly state that they know when Kelley is the prosecutor on their case that they will have to be on their best game and expect her to challenge every detail of a case right up to the last minute prior to court. Many of us investigators have shared experiences of receiving multiple text messages and phone calls from Ms. Crisp into the wee hours of the morning right up to the actual minute a trial begins. I have never received an after-hours call, text message or contact from any of the other prosecutors that I have worked with during my 30-year career.
In every single trial preparation conversation that I have ever had with Ms. Crisp she has referenced her conversations with the victims or family members of the victims and has discussed their wishes for the case. She works so hard to include the victim impact in her actions rather than many prosecutors’ tendency to just do whatever will obtain a prosecution in a case.
I have spoken with many of the victims in my cases handled by Ms. Crisp over the years after the trial in their cases. Every single one of them have expressed to me how truly blessed they felt to have Ms. Crisp as the prosecutor in their case and how they were so glad that she was “on our side” due to her ferocious and relentless performance in seeking justice on their part. They shared how they felt cared for and truly valued by her.
I have stood watch outside Ms. Crisp’s home as she and her family slept after death threats to her were discovered as she was prosecuting gang members for murder. Kelley’s resolve for justice was never stronger, even with her very life threatened and the criminals were convicted and incarcerated. I know very few law enforcement professionals that have faced the real decision to continue fighting a battle with real threats to their own and their families’ safety and forged ahead undeterred. In my opinion, that is the definition of a hero.
It is impossible to describe Kelley’s dedication to the citizens of Bowie County without mentioning her contributions to the education of future generations of law enforcement professionals. Several years ago, as I was teaching at the local police academy, I contacted Kelley to inquire if she would be interested in educating future police officers in courtroom testimony, case preparation and court etiquette. The block of instruction was scheduled to begin the next morning. She immediately agreed to do so.
The next morning Kelley arrived at the police academy with a full computer PowerPoint presentation prepared including handouts with the most detailed instruction that I had ever witnessed. It was clear that this presentation had taken hours to prepare. After the wonderful presentation I asked Kelley how long ago she had prepared this course. Kelley advised me that she prepared the material after she had spoken to me. I am constantly overwhelmed at her dedication to her craft.
In closing I must say how truly blessed and lucky I feel to have Kelley Crisp as a prosecutor in Bowie County, Texas and challenge all previous victims and jurors in her cases to give testimony to her value to the citizens of Bowie County, Texas as the next District Attorney.
Respectfully,
Scott Sartor, Criminal Investigator
