- 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?
- Thirty three years (33) Cabell County Sheriff's office, worked all divisions within agency (17 years in detective unit). Deputy Sheriff of the Year l983, nominated Police Officer of Year Cabell & Wayne County l995, past member W.VA. Juvenile Crime Coalition Commission, Certified Arson Investigator, Instructor, Crime Scene Awareness Marshall University, Graduate F.B.I. National Academy, Current Chief Deputy, served as Acting Sheriff Cabell County.
- Do you have any law enforcement experience? If so, please explain.
- I have thirty-two (32) years Law Enforcement Experience, worked over 22 homicides, 3000 burglaries, and 200 sexual assaults. Certified Arson Investigator, supervisior all Road Patrol shifts, Investigations division, County & Federal Drug Task Force Units. Marshall University Crime Scene Awareness instructor for Paramedics & EMT's, Advanced Homicide Investigations at Institue of Police Technology in Tampa, Fla., 2002 Graduate F.B.I. National Academy, & Current Chief Deputy.
- Should law enforcement experience be required to hold the office of sheriff?
- The Sheriff of today, unlike in times past should in my opinion have been a Law Enforcement officer prior to being elected. With what officers face today in Law Enforcement and the Drug world, experience is so important in that the Sheriff must select the appropriate personnel, chief tax deputy, chief deputy, etc. to best serve the public.
- Outgoing Sheriff Kim Wolfe and others consistently ask for more law enforcement officers. Are you a proponent for increasing the size of the force?
- I strongly feel the Cabell County Sheriff's office needs additional Deputies. When I began as a Deputy in l976 there were 41 deputies & today there are only 40. We are the Primary Police agency in the County taking the majority of all calls, plus supplying deputies to four Circuit Courts, two Family Courts, & Magistrate Courts. At the same time my Deputies are responsible for serving Subpoenas & Circuit Court Summons as well as executing all Mental Hygiene orders between answering 911 calls & criminal investigations. This is all very difficult while doing Drug investigations (State & Federal) as well as transporting inmates from the holding cell to the Courts during the day.
- 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?
- I would continue to do what I've done my entire career, primarily drug awareness/education at elementary grade level. I would ask the Board of Education to have mandatory Drug Education classes in the Middle schools to include the curriculum as a needed point for graduation. My efforts with local & federal drug units would be to target the repeat offenders & those out on bond who continue their drug involvement. I firmly believe that success will only come with all City, State, County, & Federal agencies working closely together. I recently sat down with the U.S. Marshal's service, plus the Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms (A.T.F.) and agreed to assign a Cabell County Deputy on their team to assist us at the local level. Since 2005, after I formed the Cabell County Drug Enforcement Unit we have seized over $50,000.00 cash, 17 motor vehicles, and have made over 250 felony arrests. Now with the numerous heroin deaths, the dealers are playing a new game where our efforts must increase with arrests and prosecutions.
- Outside of the drug war, what are the three most pressing issues that impact public safety and crime in Cabell County?
- There are so many crimes that are affected by drugs, not just selling or using, but most crimes (88%) are related in some way. 1. Theft of personal property (copper). 2. Home Burglaries. 3. Crime upon the elderly - mail theft, false pretences, and identify theft.
- In the upcoming term, what solutions would you pursue for the three, non-drug-related public safety and crime issues?
- 1. I would continue to further the neighborhood watch programs, which I currently oversee and supervise. Visit community groups to expand their knowledge and resources in burglary prevention. 2. Assign deputies to speak with seniors about preventative measures and contacts with Law Enforcement. 3. Start something that has not been done in Cabell County and that is a monthly class for community policing practices to better educate the public to assist Law Enforcement.
- 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.
- Each year since being in the Chief Deputies position, mental hygiene orders have increased. It is now to the point of needing at least two deputies designated for nothing but mental hygiene orders (sometimes 8 to 10 a day). Currently problems occur during the day when orders are issued and no deputies are available, the same applies to evening shift road patrol where deputies sometimes answer calls non-stop. Another main concern is that no order is executed without two deputies being present, the entire process generally takes 2 1/2 to 3 hours, which is a great amount of officer down time, being unable to answer Emergency calls, accidents, etc. SOLUTIONS; there are no easy ones, as long as the Sheriff's Deputies are the only Law Enforcement agency required to execute them. Manpower would be the greatest asset along with closer screening in the issuance of the order, more marginal requests rejected, and faster examination times by Psychologists and Hygiene commisioners.
- Should law enforcement officers be allowed to drive their county cruiser home each day?
- Yes, Law Enforcement should be allowed to drive their cruisers home. It has been proven that when an officer is assigned a car he/she will take much better care of it, as a result, maintenance costs will decrease. An additional plus to this is crime reduction in areas where the officer lives due to police visibiltiy, and on many occasions officers traveling to and from work sometimes are much closer to a call than the Zone Unit, reducing response time.
- 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. This is an extremely important division of the Sheriff's office where millions and millions are collected annually and the latest technology in equipment, computers, printers, and experienced honest employees are mandatory. 2. In addition, much more goes on in this office than just collection of taxes. One issue of great importance is the Sheriff being in charge of an individual's estate following death as well as being responsible for appointed persons daily financial needs after the Sheriff is appointed his/her conservator. 3. Many other accounts such as bankruptcy and other courthouse office accounts are also included as well as the issuance of motor vehicle renewal stickers.
- In the upcoming term, what solutions would you pursue for the three tax-related concerns?
- 1. Finding the most trustworthy and experienced Chief Tax Deputy to assist me in maintaining this office to its highest standards, as well as continued training for employees on collection practices. I will expand the practice of bar code payments to tax payers for further efficiency. 2. Many tax payers who come to the Courthouse dread the long lines, just prior to taxes being delinquent. I would plan for additional personnel for these times as well as an additional full time cashier who could also assist with the estates when not needed at the front cashier counter. 3. Currently the Sheriff collects taxes at the Ona field office, which has assisted in travel distance to Huntington. If elected I hope to extend that courtesy to the extreme eastern part of Cabell County with a functioning field office occupied by Deputies.
- 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?
- The Cabell Sheriff's office is a professional Law Enforcement agency. We provide bailiffs for all Courts and are their First Line of Security, which is our primary concern. Yes the Courthouse was fairly safe prior to the beginning of what is now known as Courthouse Security, however just after 8:15 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, America as we knew it suddenly changed, it has not always been a perfect operation and has many times has angered the public who are subject to being checked by security over the years. I've had mixed feelings on this issue. I feel a reduction of personnel could possible save taxpayer money, perhaps (1) guard to a door not two, but then again there have been times where they are helpful. As all are aware, all security guards carry a weapon, they qualify under sworn personnel standards and must abide by our rules and regulations, and due to this the Sheriff should have the ultimate supervision, but the Sheriff must also comply with any Circuit Court order and so must the Commission, (until there is a modification in the current order issued by the court it will remain under the Commissions direction.)
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: Do you think the crime rate is rising in rural areas? What do you think can be done?
- As rural areas grow with new housing developments & retail business', the counties population has increased, with it comes an expected rise in crime. It is difficult with current 911-call volume & manpower to be proactive with adequate coverage. As the current Chief Deputy I've attempted to expand Neighborhood Watch Programs, which is the initiative of community policing aspects.
- 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?
- Throughout my law enforcement career, I strongly supported Multi Agency Cooperation to better protect all Cabell Countians. In 2002, Police Chiefs of Milton & Barboursville entered into reciprocal agreements extending their authority to assist the Sheriff's office. Soon after, I signed an agreement with the W.Va. State Police to work in unison with the Sheriff's office on all 911 calls & investigations.
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: What procedures do you believe could be improved in the handling of domestic violence and child abuse cases?
- Domestic Violence & Child Abuse cases are certainly a priority with the Sheriff's office. It's critical that ALL Law Enforcement Agencies continue to work closely with the Department of Human Services & School Personnel as well as anonymous callers of possible neglect or abuse that is reported. This crime is not prevented by Police patrol, but rather with Education & Multi Agency Cooperation.
