Tatum Police Department

10/15/2026

Burn bans remain in effect for Rusk and Panola counties. Refrain from all outdoor burning, as fuel conditions remain extremely dry.

10/13/2026

Tatum Police Department has recovered lost property belonging to :

Stephen Keith Heald

Contact Tatum Police Department at (903) 803-3581 to describe and claim your lost property.

10/10/2026

I want to thank our Tatum Volunteer Fire Department, and our First Responders who serve our City all day, every day.

Of course everyone knows what “Volunteer Firefighters “ do, they go to fires and wrecks. But did you know that they also go to sick calls and medical emergencies of ALL kinds …day and night ? Yes, that’s right …volunteers.

Yesterday was an especially busy day for our Tatum Volunteer Firefighters and First Responders. We at the Police Department, responded to three medical emergencies. One was a serious motor vehicle accident, then a wellness check that quickly turned into a response from our First Responders to asses a patient. And then again late last night a response to another motor vehicle accident. Keep in mind, these men and women are volunteers, they have jobs and families …they respond day and night , 365 days a year and get no paycheck.

What is just amazing to me is , I requested our First Responders yesterday to a wellness check , and inside of 3 minutes there were 4 volunteers and apparatus with medical equipment on scene and treating the patient ..3 minutes.

When you see one of these volunteers around town, take the opportunity to thank them. We could not make it in this town without our Volunteer Fire Department and First Responders.

10/09/2026

Law Enforcement, Fire Departments and Wrecker Services are invited to attend; BELOW 100 AND BELOW 100 train the trainer on Tuesday November 10, 2026 at the Sherman Smith Community Center in Tatum, Texas.

BELOW 100 is a national training program designed to reduce preventable line of duty First Responder deaths and serious injuries to fewer than 100 per year.

Take advantage of this fantastic training opportunity by scanning the QR code on the announcement.

Please share this announcement.

09/26/2026

WELCOME TO THE TATUM POLICE DEPARTMENT, OFFICER MARCUS SMITH

Today, it is my privilege to officially welcome Officer Marcus Smith to the Tatum Police Department.

It takes a very special kind of person to choose a career in law enforcement. Wearing the badge is far more than putting on a uniform and reporting for a shift. It is accepting the responsibility of answering the call when someone needs help, stepping into situations others may be running from, making difficult decisions under pressure, and committing yourself to serving people with integrity, courage, compassion, fairness, and respect.

The City of Tatum is fortunate that Marcus Smith has chosen to make that commitment here.

Marcus is originally from Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Tatum in 2023. He and his wife, Alexandria, are raising their four children, Ayden, Jayce, Gianna, and Kendall, here in our community. Long before putting on a badge, Marcus was already investing in Tatum and its young people through youth football, where he has coached for the past four years. Today, he begins a new chapter and a new way of serving the community he and his family now call home.

After graduating from the East Texas Police Academy, Longview Class L359, Marcus took the oath of office and officially began his career as a police officer with the Tatum Police Department.

That oath is more than words spoken during a ceremony. It is a promise. A promise to uphold the law, protect the citizens entrusted to his care, serve with honor, and conduct himself in a way that reflects the responsibility represented by the badge he now wears.

And while Marcus is the one who took the oath, a career in law enforcement is rarely carried by the officer alone.

We also want to recognize Alexandria, Ayden, Jayce, Gianna, and Kendall. There will be long shifts, late nights, changed plans, missed dinners, holidays interrupted, and times when the demands of this profession extend well beyond the end of a scheduled shift. The support of a law enforcement family matters more than most people will ever know. We are grateful to Alexandria and the children for sharing Marcus with the citizens of Tatum, and we are proud to welcome the entire Smith family into the Tatum Police Department family.

We were also incredibly fortunate to have so many family members, friends, community leaders, and fellow public servants present to witness Marcus’s swearing-in and join us for the celebratory dinner afterward. Your presence made an important day even more meaningful.

A special thank you to:

Marcus Smith & family • Rusk County Constable Matt Allison, Precinct 2 • Dana Buddecke • Lauren Cooper • Michael Cooper • Mr. & Mrs. Chase Hilgendorf • Sgt. Bobby Jones • Amy Means • Judge Bonnie Miller • Paul Montez • Wendell Moore • Drew Russell • Nakia Smith & family • Tate Smith

Seeing so many people gathered around Marcus as he begins this journey speaks volumes about the support system standing behind him.

Marcus, this profession will give you some of the most rewarding days of your life, and it will also test you in ways that are difficult to understand until you have worn the badge yourself. On both kinds of days, remember why you started.

Remember your oath. Remember your family. Remember the community that placed its trust in you.

Treat people fairly. Show compassion when circumstances allow it. Stand firm when the situation requires it. Take care of your fellow officers. Do what is right even when nobody is watching. And no matter how many calls you answer or how many years you wear the badge, never lose sight of the human being on the other side of every call.

Officer Marcus Smith, welcome to the Tatum Police Department.

We are proud to have you serving alongside us, grateful that you chose Tatum, and excited to watch you build a career that your family, your department, and this community can be proud of.

Congratulations, Officer Smith. The badge is yours. Now go wear it well.

Chief James Smith
Chief of Police
Tatum Police Department

09/12/2026

09/12/2026

Thank you Tatum Primary School, for inviting us to First Responders Day! Thanks also to Tatum Elementary for the refreshments!

Tatum ISD

09/02/2026

Rusk, Gregg and Panola counties remain under a court ordered burn ban.

We know, we know it rained!

Yes, we’re thankful for every drop we received. Unfortunately, the rainfall was not enough to significantly change our current dry conditions or lift the burn bans.

Both Gregg and Rusk Counties remain under burn bans, and outdoor burning is NOT permitted.

A little rain helps but we’re not out of the woods yet!

08/27/2026

We remain under a burn ban for both Rusk and Panola County.

All outdoor burning is extremely dangerous. Escaped fires will be destructive, fast moving and difficult to contain .

Outdoor burning, which is a violation of a court ordered burn ban will result in a fine.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

DON’T RISK IT!

Today along with several other local departments we were able to help save someone’s house from a growing and quick spreading wildfire. We were able to get control of it rather fast but it doesn’t take much scrolling to see across the state and the country all of the news of how unfortunately that is not always the outcome.

This situation likely will get worse before better so please be vigilant, no burning, no throwing your cigarette butt out the window, nothing like that, please don’t take that chance; for us, for your community and for yourself.

08/24/2026