Why are you running?

I am seeking the office of sheriff because I am passionate about serving people.

I have been providing service to the public my entire adult life.

I honorably served my country during the Desert Storm War at the age of 19.

I will bring progressive and innovative ideas to help reduce crime and enhance the quality of life for all people.

Although I am the youngest of the three candidates, I have the most experience as a department head, serving as chief of police for the past eight years.

I have extensive training in both professional and executive leadership.

• UNC School of Government Municipal and County Government

• Chief Executive leadership program NC State

• Chief of Police leadership course NC Justice Academy

• Federal law Enforcement Intelligence Led Training

• Southeast Halifax High School graduate

• B.S. Criminal Justice degree Western Carolina University

• Master of Public Administration UNC Pembroke

• Criminal Justice Instructor

• Ordained Minister

• College Professor at North Carolina Wesleyan College

I have 23 years of law enforcement experience. I have worked as a deputy sheriff, narcotics agent, sergeant and lieutenant in Investigations and chief of police.

I will be fair to all, accountable to all, community oriented, trusty worthy, and will provide professional service to all. Know the F.A.C.T.S. I will be one Sheriff for all people.

What is the biggest issue facing law enforcement in Halifax County?

One of the biggest issues facing most law enforcement agencies is funding.

This directly effects the ability to hire and retain qualified staff, purchase needed equipment, and daily operations.

I will review the current budget line items and make any necessary adjustments. I will explore other resources to help offset operational cost.

I will be aggressive in securing grants, and drug forfeiture monies to help with purchasing departmental equipment and funding positions and training.

I will continue to look at ways to maximize the use of taxpayer’s monies for service and protection.

How do you go about lowering the crime rate in the county with limited manpower and equipment?

I will implement the philosophy of community policing to help lower the crime rate in the county.

The Sheriff’s office will form community partnerships and problem solving techniques, to proactively address the immediate needs of public safety. As Sheriff, I will be accessible and visible in all communities.

I will form neighborhood watch groups, community focus groups, work with business and civic organizations, the faith-based communities, schools and the public on strategies that will help reduce crimes, social disorders and the fear of crimes.

The state has specifically outlawed Internet sweepstakes cafe, yet they continue to operate in Halifax County. Why are they continuing to operate? Do you feel they should be allowed to operate? Will you enforce the state law?

A state law put most internet sweepstake businesses out of business when The Attorney General gave the OK to district attorneys to enforce the new law. If you remember, in 2006 lawmakers passed a ban on video poker and all other electronic gambling equipment.

Soon thereafter, the gambling industry responded, coming up with new software known as pre-reveal system, by where the click of a mouse will reveal if you have won before playing.

The reason a lot of the locations are still in operation is just for that reason, the new software, which makes the operation legal.

Across North Carolina as a whole some district attorneys and sheriffs’ are enforcing the law, and some after further inspection are giving the owner the OK to operate under the new pre-reveal computer software.

Speaking as if I were in the position of sheriff, it wouldn’t be my job to say whether or not I believe they should or shouldn’t be allowed to operate. I must enforce the laws of the Constitution and the laws that govern this great state of North Carolina. In December of 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the ban, and I must follow the law.

Finally, prosecution ultimately falls on the district attorney office. Therefore enforcement and prosecution would be a collaborative effort between law enforcement and the district attorney.

In Halifax County, cooperation among other local law enforcement agencies has been paramount in solving numerous crimes. Why does this work and will you take more advantage or less advantage of this in your tenure as sheriff?

Cooperative law enforcement in Halifax Count is very important. It will help with expanding resources, providing efficient services, and saving taxpayer money.

As sheriff I will join forces with local police departments and other law enforcement agencies in the county in attempting to provide a cooperative approach to public safety. I will meet with municipal chiefs on a regular basis to share information and help develop problem-solving strategies.

I will include municipal officers as part of a countywide violent crime task force.

I will share mutual aid agreements with each municipal agency within the county.

Cooperative law enforcement is a proven and vital tool for success and I will strongly advocate for it.

Do you anticipate continuing to use federal adoption of local cases and do you believe your relationship with the feds is strong enough to continue these efforts?

It is important to use the resource of federal adoption because of the abilities to investigate beyond street level dealers and look at the main supply sources.

Federal adoption carries a more stringent form of punishment in both incarceration and asset forfeiture. I will continue to push for federal case adoptions when appropriate.

What improvements need to be made within the sheriff's office and how do you go about making those improvements in times of tight budgets?

Once in office I will make necessary assessments both internally and externally. From there I create an appropriate plan of action to address the needs.

Please state the need for a new county jail or its expansion. Are there other ways to deal with inmate overcrowding beyond construction?

The current jail was built to house 85 inmates. It is my understanding that the current jail is overcrowded. The most immediate solution to the overcrowding problem is to transport inmates to neighboring county jails and pay the expense of housing, and transport.

Sixty to 70 percent of the offenders in the local jail are pretrial detainees.

I will work with the courts and encourage pretrial screening programs to help reduce the pressure for jail beds.

Pretrial screening is much less expensive than housing an offender, costs less than $10 per day per offender on average, compared to $48-$52 per day to provide jail space.

I will encourage the use community corrections programs to help ease the overcrowding problem. Alternatives to incarcerations such as pretrial release, community service work programs, day reporting centers, residential treatment facilities and other local alternatives and rehabilitation to the offender typically cost approximately $5 per day, compared to the $48-$52 per day cost of housing an offender in the jail. Finally, if the county in the future increased the size of the current jail, I would be in support of U.S. Justice Department Cooperative Agreement Program.

Under this agreement the county could contract with the U.S Marshal Service and house federal prisoners for a fee.

As an addendum to the previous jail question, county commissioners recently voted to not expend funds on the jail expansion. Was this a good idea or bad idea? Should the matter be reopened? How will you work within this vote to ease overcrowding at the jail?

I will work to make sure that the jail is safe and secure. Secondly, I will work within the parameters available without compromising public safety.

What can the sheriff's office do to be more proactive?

Law enforcement in general can be more proactive through accessibility, and cooperative law enforcement. Law enforcement visibility and support in all communities will help foster trust and develop communication. Law enforcement agencies working together as a team will help demonstrate unity subsequently a positive perception from the community it serves.

Describe your vision for law enforcement in Halifax County.

Moving Halifax County forward I plan to take an innovative approach to improve public safety and enhance the quality of life.

Through positive leadership and with a commitment and passion for service, I believe that I can make a difference in keeping our citizens safe. I invite you to participate in this vision to move Halifax County forward. Through collaboration, we will foster a safer and more prosperous community for ourselves, our children and generations to come.

The Jeffery Cotton murder case has yet to be solved. Amy Bridgeman has yet to be found. What are you doing, or what would you do, to solve these two cases?

My respect goes out to all the families who have lost loved ones.

I will pledge to dedicate resources to every unsolved cold case in Halifax County. I will review all unsolved case files and form a review panel to help create a things to do checklist.

I will form a task force that will follow-up leads and be primarily dedicated to working cold cases.

I will look to outside agencies and organizations for help and advice in working these cases. I will explore the idea of recruiting retired detectives from state, federal and local agencies to volunteer their services and expertise to help solve cold cases.

I will be opened minded and work diligently in my efforts to help solve all cold cases.