I am running for sheriff because I believe our community deserves experienced, trustworthy leadership. I recently retired after 30 years in law enforcement, along with 8 years of military service. Over the course of my career, I served in the jail, patrolling our community, inmate transportation, and courthouse security, gaining firsthand experience in every major function of the sheriff’s office. Throughout that time, I maintained a clean record and built a strong reputation grounded in integrity, honor, accountability, and transparency. I love this town and the people who live here. This isn’t just a job to me, it’s about protecting the community I call home. I want to ensure our sheriff’s office reflects strong leadership, proper training, and a culture built on transparency, accountability, commitment, and good character. That means setting clear standards, supporting and mentoring our deputies, and maintaining the highest level of professionalism.

I believe in community involvement and building trust. Law enforcement works best when there is mutual respect between deputies and citizens. As sheriff, I will lead with openness, responsibility, and transparency, ensuring our office serves the people with fairness, professionalism, and pride.

The Person County Sheriff’s Office will be an agency that the people of this county trust, not just because we enforce the law, but because we serve with integrity, fairness, and compassion.

First and foremost, our mission will be public safety. Every family in Person County deserves to feel safe in their home, safe sending their kids to school, and safe running their business. We will take a proactive approach to crime, addressing drug activity, property crime, and violent offenses head-on, while also working to prevent crime before it happens.

But law enforcement is about more than arrests. It’s about relationships. I want our deputies to be visible in the community, attending local events, supporting our schools, connecting with our churches and civic groups. When citizens know their deputies and deputies know their citizens, trust grows. And trust makes us all safer.

Transparency and accountability will be a priority in my administration. The Sheriff’s Office belongs to the people of Person County. That means clear policies, open communication, and leadership that listens. I will hold myself and my staff to the highest ethical standards, because leadership starts at the top.

I also believe we must take care of the men and women who wear the badge. They deserve proper training, modern equipment, strong leadership, and support for their physical and mental well-being. When deputies feel supported and valued, they perform at their best and our community benefits.

We will continue strengthening partnerships with local police departments, emergency services, schools, and mental health providers. Not every call requires jail, sometimes it requires resources, compassion, and coordination. I support expanding crisis intervention training and working alongside mental health professionals to make smart, responsible decisions in difficult situations.

Finally, we will be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. I will pursue grants where available, ensure efficient operations, and make decisions that balance safety with fiscal responsibility.

The Person County Sheriff’s Office under my leadership will stand for professionalism, respect, and service. We will enforce the law fairly and consistently, protect constitutional rights, and treat every person with dignity. My commitment is simple: to serve this county with honesty, courage, and accountability, every single day.

Running the Person County jail comes with real challenges, from staffing shortages to mental health and substance abuse issues among inmates. My priority is to make the jail safer and more effective by supporting our deputies with proper training, equipment like scanners and modern security systems, and mental health resources.

I also believe in learning from other counties with successful jail programs to bring best practices here. Expanding access to mental health care, crisis intervention training, and substance abuse treatment can address underlying problems, while educational and life skills programs help inmates succeed after release.

By focusing on safety, training, and rehabilitation, we can reduce repeat offenses, support our deputies, and make our community safer, all while using taxpayer dollars responsibly.

Looking ahead over the next four years, I think we’ll continue to see challenges with substance abuse, including opioids and meth, which often lead to property crimes and other related issues. At the same time, cybercrime and online scams are becoming more common, even in smaller communities like ours, so public awareness and law enforcement training will be key.

Mental health will also remain a significant factor, with many calls involving people in crisis. That’s why it’s so important for deputies to have crisis intervention training and access to resources that can help individuals before situations escalate.

While violent crime is relatively low in Person County, we can’t take safety for granted. By focusing on prevention, community partnerships, and proactive policing, we can stay ahead of these trends and keep our county safe.

I believe the role of sheriff is to prioritize public safety and build trust within the community. Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and when local law enforcement takes on that role, it can undermine trust and make people hesitant to report crimes or seek help. My focus would remain on protecting all residents, addressing local crime, and ensuring that everyone feels safe turning to the sheriff’s office when they need assistance.

As sheriff, my priority is ensuring our community is safe and that our deputies have the tools, training, and resources they need to do their jobs effectively. Funding for the sheriff’s office should first support core public safety responsibilities—patrolling neighborhoods, investigating crimes, supporting victims, and investing in officer training and technology. At the same time, it’s important to be responsible stewards of public funds and consider the impact on taxpayers. My approach would always balance public safety with fiscal responsibility, ensuring our office can serve the community efficiently and effectively.

To be proactive against crime, a Sheriff’s Office has to stay ahead of problems instead of just reacting after something happens. That starts with having deputies visible in the community. When deputies are out patrolling neighborhoods, businesses, and rural areas, it sends a message that law enforcement is present and paying attention.

Building trust with the community is also very important. People are more willing to come forward with information when they know and trust the deputies serving them. A Sheriff’s Office should be approachable and involved in the community so citizens feel comfortable speaking with us.

We also have to stay focused on drugs, because drugs are behind a lot of the crime we see today. A strong narcotics effort working with other agencies can help take drugs and repeat offenders off the streets.

Being proactive means working with the community, being visible, and focusing our efforts where crime is starting to develop. When law enforcement and the community work together, we can prevent a lot of crime before it ever happens.

One of my proudest moments in public service isn’t tied to a single arrest or case—it’s the moments when I’ve been able to help people through some of the hardest times in their lives. Over the years, I’ve had people come up to me weeks, months, or even a year later and tell me that something I said or did helped them change direction and get their life back on track. Those moments mean more to me than anything.

Law enforcement isn’t just about enforcing the law. It’s about people. Sometimes someone just needs someone to listen, someone to calm them down, or someone to show them that things can get better. If I can put a person at ease when they feel like their life is going the wrong way and give them advice that helps them choose a better path, that’s something I’m proud of.

And when someone has been hurt or is scared, being able to make them feel safe and comfort them until they can get the help they need—that’s what public service is really about. Those are the moments that remind me why I chose this career.