On Aug. 5, Ex-Midland County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) official Rory McKinney entered his name into the race to become the Permian Basin county’s top cop. McKinney made his announcement in an Aug. 5 Facebook post.
"After multiple discussions with family, friends, and concerned citizens, I have made the decision to run for Midland County Sheriff," McKinney said in his Facebook post. "My decision comes based on the love and appreciation that I have for my community."
Odessa NBC affiliate KWES Channel 9 reports that McKinney is slated to formally launch his campaign on Aug. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the conference center of the Homewood Suites in Midland.
“Over the last several years, law enforcement has noticed a rise in drugs, human trafficking, and alcohol related crimes,” McKinney said in his Facebook post. “As the Permian Basin grows, it is imperative that we address these issues for our current and future generations.
“The time has come for our community to come together as one and choose the right path for Midland County,” McKinney added.
Per the KWES report, McKinney worked under late Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter as MCSO Chief Deputy. He previously ran for sheriff in 2020, but lost the contest to current officeholder David Criner, according to a Mar. 6, 2020, report from Odessa CBS affiliate KOSA Channel 7. KOSA reported that McKinney retired from the sheriff’s department shortly after the loss.
According to reports from KWES and KOSA at the time, McKinney’s first bid was marred by allegations of wiretapping a department employee’s phone calls in addition to other legal troubles. Painter, who led the law enforcement agency for approximately 30 years, died at his residence during the 2019 Memorial Day weekend at the age of 72. McKinney concluded his post saying that needs local, known leaders who are familiar with the problems the county faces and are dedicated to addressing them.
“It’s time for all agencies in the area to work together to combat these issues prevalent in Midland County,” McKinney said.