Does the sheriff care about whether crimes are being committed in the Short Creek area or does he just want to reassure them that he is their friend?

I would think the only reason people would be concerned is if they are committing the crimes. I work with families and they often are worried that they will be investigated for something. I tell them if they haven't done anything wrong to tell the investigating office to "bring it on". I think in a situation like this, the only time I would be worried is if I was conducting criminal activity, ie, child abuse, rape of a child, domestic violence, etc. Otherwise, if I'm innocent of all that, "bring it on"!

Are you kidding?? -- are you sure you work with families? Your "bring it on" statement speaks to me of a person who is very simple. In this situation I would be worried if I was a Christian polygamous that never heard of Joe Smith - never mind a community that allowed themselves to be undone by one of the most dangerous psychopathic "prophets" to ever destroy children on this planet. Kirk Smith was no help investigating and protecting female children out of the "Short Creek" area since 2000 when these crimes escalated.
This Mayor knows there will have to be some investigations in Colorado City and Hildale because some of the female children found in the Texas Compound were "favored" by the Psycho-Prophet and the parents - still in Colorado City or Hildale - just rounded them up and sent or took them. So Kirk can't promise there won't be investigations -- unless he can shut down questions from the feds looking for these families. But even if I was a polyganous family where every wife was an adult on marriage and the kids were getting the public education recommended. I would be SCARED. GOD HELP US ALL.