As Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins walks through the halls of the school he attended as a child, he gets high fives and hugs. He visits H.W. Wilkey Elementary School twice a week to teach anti-addiction and drug awareness to fifth-graders.

Norman believes he can make a positive impact on young people, gaining their trust so if someday they need help, they will reach out. “We have more resources available today than we did 20 years ago for people who were addicted to different drugs," he says. "We now have more avenues to get them help.”

The importance of that kind of help hits close to home. Norman's father struggled with addiction, often having run-ins with police and his mother. When Norman began his law enforcement career, he went straight to see his father. “I said, Dad, we got to talk, and he said, 'I know what you're gonna tell me,'” Norman says. “He stuck his finger in my face and said, 'Norman, you do your job.'”


“My dad never took another drink after that day," he says, "because he knew that I would have done my job.”

Norman's personal policing approach is community-based. As he steps into his office one morning, his phone is ringing. He learns that a 60-year-old woman in Grayson County has no electricity at home, and a local non-profit organization is out of funds and unable to help pay her bill.

The sheriff finds the money through a program called "Behind the Badge," and the power is restored. “This is the type of work that I like doing,” says Norman. “It aggravates me that people that have platforms where they can influence and impact others don't use that platform to do that.”

But the job has its darker side as well, and one incident weighs on Norman's mind, years since it happened.


On Dec. 9, 2015, while responding to a domestic violence call, Norman shot and killed 66-year-old Chris Hidgon.

“I dream about it," he says. "I have nightmares about it. I think about his family. I think about his sisters, I think about his daughter, his wife – his wife was there.”

Norman raced down the road to the disturbance with Chief Deputy Corey Knochel in front. “All of a sudden Corey goes, 'Norman, he's at the end of the driveway. He's got a gun,'” says Norman. “I looked to my left, and he was standing about 150, 200 feet away from me.” Chris approached Norman with his gun drawn, and Norman fired off three rounds, striking and killing Chris with the third.

Norman was cleared of all charges by a grand jury but the shooting left a permanent mark. “I always thought that if I had to shoot and kill someone, as long as I was justified, I would be OK. I’d just drive on and everything's fine. Then when it actually happened, I realized it wasn't that easy."

Norman refuses to wear the medal of valor he received for his actions that night. To him, it's like celebrating a death. “I say I'm a Christian, but I don't bow my head when I pray.” says Norman. “I know God forgives everybody, but I killed a guy.”

The sheriff clearly carries the guilt of having taken a life in the performance of his duties, but he also carries the pride of helping school children avoid drugs and addiction, and downtrodden constituents restore their power. And perhaps he still hears his father's admonition: "Norman, do your job."