- What makes you qualified to serve as a sheriff? If you're an incumbent, what accomplishment(s) in the current term make you worthy of re-election?
- I have trained my entire adult life for this position. In my 26 plus years as a Cabell Co. Deputy Sheriff, I experienced every aspect of law enforcement. (Road Patrol, Chief of Detectives, Commander of Courts and Processing Division) I have proven law enforcement expertise and leadership skills.
- Do you have any law enforcement experience? If so, please explain.
- As a road-patrol officer I was in every nook and cranny of Cabell Co., handling everything from domestic disputes, to break-ins, to car wrecks and traffic violations. I have been in high-speed car chases, night-time searches for suspects, and chased criminals on foot through dense muddy riverbanks.
As a bailiff and then Commander of Courts and Processing, I observed first-hand the inner workings of the court system. I learned much about criminal procedures, such as collection of evidence and how best to present it at trial. I learned from the mistakes I saw others make.
In establishing, training and commanding the SWAT team, I experienced many dangerous drug-related arrests, high-risk search warrants, barricaded gunmen, and hostage situations.
As the Dept. Firearms instructor, I trained over 4000 citizens in the skills and knowledge needed to handle guns safely and to obtain concealed weapon permits if they so desired.
As a detective and Chief of the Detective Bureau I investigated everything from robberies, to rape, drug offenses, murders and suicides. I have witnessed every type of horrific death and attended numerous autopsies.
In short, I have experienced the good, bad, and ugly that a career in law enforcement has to offer.
- Should law enforcement experience be required to hold the office of sheriff?
- It is imperative. Citizens expect much more than an administrator. They demand someone they can count on to make the right decisions concerning their protection and safety. For instance, if there was a hostage situation at one of the schools, they will want someone in charge who has the expertise to handle the situation himself, rather than delegate authority to someone under him.
- Outgoing Sheriff Kim Wolfe and others consistently ask for more law enforcement officers. Are you a proponent for increasing the size of the force?
- The need for more officers is critical. We have the same number of officers now as when I was hired in 1981, yet the demands of the Department have greatly increased.
- Most agree that drug trafficking is the county's most pressing public safety issue. How will you work to eradicate this problem in the upcoming term?
- To successfully prosecute any drug case, the suspected substance must be tested in a certified lab. The suspected substances are currently sent to the WV State Police Lab. They simply do not have the manpower to test every suspected substance and so they primarily concentrate on felony drug cases. This means that practically every misdemeanor drug offense is dismissed because the drugs have not been verified by a lab. The local users and suppliers know this; therefore, there is no fear of penalty.
I would work to partner with the Marshall University Forensics Dept. and area law enforcement agencies to set up a local lab whereby the drugs could be tested and verified so that the misdemeanor offenses can be fully prosecuted. If the demand for drugs is cut, so will the suppliers who bring serious crimes to our area.
I would also build a good working relationship with other area law enforcement agencies so that information and resources can be united together to fight the drug crisis.
- Outside of the drug war, what are the three most pressing issues that impact public safety and crime in Cabell County?
- 1. Response times to emergency situations. Normally, only 2-3 deputies are on road patrol at any given time. If one deputy is at a call in Lesage, one in Salt Rock, one on Barker’s Ridge, and then an emergency exists in Culloden, it is impossible for a quick response.
2. Aggressive patrol of all areas of the county.
3. Modernization of the computer system to allow for rapid submission and retrieval of crime data.
- In the upcoming term, what solutions would you pursue for the three, non-drug-related public safety and crime issues?
- For 1 & 2 above, I will evaluate the current road-patrol schedule and manpower allocations to see if they can be adapted to allow for more deputies to be on the road at all times. I will also assure that all matters brought to the Detective Bureau will be taken seriously, and handled promptly and professionally, as they were when I was commander.
For number 3, it is critical to provide deputies with up-to-date computer equipment; therefore, I will seek federal grants to purchase laptops for each cruiser. If unsuccessful in obtaining grants, I will seek other funding.
- The law enforcement branch of the sheriff's department also provides bailiffs for court and serves warrants, including many warrants served in mental hygiene cases. Does this operation need enhanced? If so, explain the problem and your solution.
- I spent several years as a bailiff and/or commander of the Courts and Processing Unit; therefore, I am very familiar with the problems this unit faces.
As with all areas of the Dept., this unit is understaffed. Increasing the number of deputies would ease the situation. Mental Hygienes are time-sensitive. They must be handled immediately and require at least two deputies, so sometimes staff needed for court or serving warrants has to be pulled to handle the immediate Mental Hygiene crisis. The only solution is more deputies. If funding is not available to hire more staff, I will look at reallocating current resources.
For many years the position of bailiff was thought of as an “easy duty” job, often given to deputies awaiting retirement. This is no longer so. The protection of our judges and citizens in the courtroom is a very serious matter not to be taken lightly. Some of the most dangerous situations or physical encounters I ever experienced occurred in the courtroom.
- Should law enforcement officers be allowed to drive their county cruiser home each day?
- Yes. Most departments nationwide have gone to this policy for very good reasons. Officers are technically on duty 24/7. They are often called out at times other than during their regular shift. Having their cars already at home increases the response time to the emergency since they don’t have to drive to a designated staging area to pick up needed equipment prior to responding to the emergency.
- The Sheriff's Department also serves as a tax collection agency. What are the three most pressing concerns facing this portion of the office?
- 1. Currently, citizens have to inconveniently mail in their taxes, or come downtown to the courthouse for full tax payment services.
2. Delinquent taxes.
3. Persons who reside in Cabell Co. but maintain out-of-state licenses in avoidance of paying personal property taxes.
- In the upcoming term, what solutions would you pursue for the three tax-related concerns?
- 1. Modernize the current technology to make taxes easier to pay by:
a. Offering the option of electronic billing to cut mailing and printing costs.
b. Offering the option of paying taxes on-line by electronic check or credit card through a secure website.
c. Explore the option of receiving monthly or quarterly bills to relieve the burden of large 6 month or 1 year bills.
d. Upgrading the Ona substation to also provide a full-service tax division.
2. Assure all legal collection techniques are promptly used to collect delinquent taxes.
3. Provide a way for citizens to anonymously report those who are living in Cabell Co. but maintain out-of-state licenses to avoid paying personal property taxes.
- What role should the sheriff's department have in providing security within the courthouse? Do you support the county commission's control of the courthouse security force?
- No, I do not support the county commission’s control of courthouse security. Courthouse security officers are armed, yet the commissioners do not have the capacity to properly train such officers. Also, since security officers have no real legal authority, they must call on deputies in the courthouse when serious issues arise.
Control of courthouse security should be returned to the Sheriff’s Dept. so that the officers can be properly trained and a closer working relationship can be reestablished with the deputies.
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: Do you think the crime rate is rising in rural areas? What do you think can be done?
- Yes. Drug criminals seek new areas to sell drugs, and drug users commit more crimes to fund their habits An inter-departmental approach, shared information, and computer-based record keeping should lead to more arrests and convictions, and help curtail encroachment into rural areas.
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: How would you cooperate with other jurisdictions of the county to alleviate the problems of crime and violence countywide?
- The computer systems of Cabell County’s law enforcement departments were designed to share data and intelligence; however, none have followed through. A priority when I become Sheriff is to link our computer system with other agencies so we can share information, and catch criminals who fall through the cracks.
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: What procedures do you believe could be improved in the handling of domestic violence and child abuse cases?
- We need to offer more training for officers on handling these volatile situations. We need to increase the rapport with and the information exchange between ourselves and DHHR Child Protective Service Workers, Domestic Violence Shelters, and School Personnel. Furthermore, we need to educate the public on recognizing and reporting incidents.
