It was a meeting Moody County Sheriff Troy Wellman and others in the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) had hoped for years ago — but never received during the previous administration.
Despite numerous formal requests, the NSA had been unable to secure a sit-down with former President Joe Biden. So when the current Executive Committee asked President Donald Trump for a meeting within his first 100 days in office, they weren’t sure they’d hear back. Late last month, they got the call — and were asked to be in Washington, D.C. the following Monday, April 28.
“It was quite an experience being in the Oval Office,” said Wellman.
“It felt like we were just sitting in someone’s living room, having a real conversation.”
That conversation gave Wellman and his colleagues the chance to speak directly with the President about several pressing issues affecting sheriff’s offices across the country — especially small and rural ones. Topics included border security, inmate calling policies, and a growing concern over 911 communication systems.
In regard to emergency communication systems and the future of 911 centers: The NSA raised concerns about AT&T’s expanding role in providing emergency communication services through its FirstNet platform — a nationwide wireless broadband network built specifically for first responders.
FirstNet promises stronger, faster, more reliable service for emergency personnel, but Wellman said that sheriffs are worried about putting so much infrastructure into the hands of one private provider. There are concerns it could reduce accessibility — particularly in rural communities.
The group also addressed recent federal regulations that cap how much private companies can charge inmates for phone calls — a policy shift that cuts into funding many jails used for safety upgrades and inmate programming. Jails in the past have typically received a portion of those fees, so the loss in revenue has had a ripple effect on local budgets.

Border security was another priority item, with sheriffs noting a growing need for better federal-local communication and coordination.
Wellman, who currently serves as the NSA’s 2nd Vice President, will step into the 1st Vice President role this June and is expected to take over as President of the national organization in June of next year.
As to why he felt compelled to get involved, “Out of the 3,081 sheriff’s offices across the country, the majority — between 60 and 80 percent — are considered small and rural, with fewer than 100 deputies,” he said.
“I want to make sure the little guy’s voice is heard. That someone’s representing the small offices.”
He believes the power of the NSA is its ability to speak as one voice for sheriffs across the country, something individual departments rarely have the capacity to do alone.
Other Sheriffs in Attendance Included:
● NSA President Sheriff Kieran Donahue (Canyon County, ID)
● Vice President Sheriff Chris West (Canadian County, OK)
● Secretary Sheriff Michael Mastronardy (Ocean County, NJ)
● Treasurer Sheriff Michael Chapman (Loudoun County, VA)
● Past President Sheriff Vern Stanforth (Fayette County, OH)
● Executive Committee Members Sheriff Eric Severson (Waukesha County, WI), Sheriff Tim Fuller (Franklin County, TN), and Sheriff Michael Adkinson (Walton County, FL)
“It’s hard to make a difference on your own. But through the association, we have a better shot at solving problems that affect us all,” said Wellman, ensuring places like Moody County are part of the national conversation.