Why are you running?
In 1984, at the age of 19, I was hired by Sheriff W. C. “Bill” Bailey as a Jailer. Since 1985, I have been promoted through the ranks of the Sheriff’s Office by Sheriffs Bailey, M. L. Stallings and Jeff Frazier. In 2008, I was promoted to the position of chief deputy, overseeing all operations of the Sheriff’s Office.
In August of 2013, the Halifax County Board of Commissioners, by majority vote, appointed me as Sheriff of Halifax County out of four other candidates.
During my course of service, I have completed thousands of hours of continuing education and in service training.
I hold a North Carolina Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate and am certified by the State of North Carolina as a Criminal Investigator. As an investigator, my specialties were crimes against children and homicide.
I have administrated and supervised over a narcotics unit that has been successful in the largest federal drug campaign in Halifax County history. Under my supervision, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office has been acknowledged as having the area’s highest overall clearance rates in crime, according to the SBI.
I have been serving the citizens of Halifax County for the last 30 years.
I was humbled and blessed to have started at the bottom and work my way up to my current position of sheriff.
The sheriff’s job is to protect the lives and property of all citizens within the county.
I am committed to providing a safe and secure environment for Halifax County citizens to live and work.
I have and will continue to enforce the law.
Based on my proven leadership and experience, I wish to continue to serve all the citizens of Halifax County.
What is the biggest issue facing the Halifax County Sheriff's Office?
(See answer to question on how the sheriff's office can be more proactive)
How do you go about lowering the crime rate in the county with limited manpower and equipment?
(See answer to question on how the sheriff's office can be more proactive)
What can the sheriff's office do to be more proactive?
The state of our local economy is a pressing issue.
Halifax County is a tier one county, which equates to one of the poorest counties in the state.
Property crimes and substance abuse are up. During any given 12-hour shift, we have seven uniformed deputies working 712 square miles.
I have reallocated personnel in scheduling to address crime trends which have resulted in reducing crime in Halifax County.
Visibility is number one in fighting crime. Every township in our county is unique. I have established “Concerns for Your Community” meetings throughout Halifax County.
On a regular basis, I meet with each community to discuss crime trends and learn what the Sheriff’s Office can do to better serve the citizens.
I have also enacted the Sheriff E-Program. This program, through email, allows citizens to learn about crime as its happening in their area. It enables the individual to protect themselves and their property. To participate, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., list the post office you receive your postal mail.
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?
In reference to “outlawed internet sweepstakes cafe”, there’s no mention of that term in NC General Statute 14-306.4. It does talk about electronic machines and devices for sweepstakes.
Those machines are prohibited. Operators have moved to new software that is designed to fall outside the scope of the statute.
Some operators are using systems that reveal the result of the sweepstake on the screen before any game simulation appears.
Past inspections of vendors in Halifax County found these pre-reveal systems. Criminal prosecutions under 14-306.4 began slowly. There have been convictions at the district court level but most have been appealed.
There also have been many acquittals/not guilty based on the argument of legality of the pre-reveal systems. This law is unclear.
Law enforcement in our area has not received any state mandated training concerning this statute. There needs to be a clear interpretation of how to successfully investigate this statute. I will not waste county money and manpower charging a vendor only to lose a case because of insufficient evidence to prosecute. Once we have clear guidance on how to prosecute this statute, yes, we will enforce the law.
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?
The Sheriff’s position is considered to be the top law enforcement officer of the county. It is very important to have strong working relationships with the different municipalities.
Crime fighting needs no boundaries.
Law enforcement is a thin blue line. Working together works. I would like to partner with the District Attorney’s office and have monthly meetings with the police departments to share information.
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?
The Sheriff’s Office has strong working relationships with various federal agencies.
Carrying local cases to the federal level for adoption is very crucial for the taxpayers of Halifax County.
Those assets seized by the Sheriff’s Office can have a return up to 80 percent.
This enables a variety of necessary equipment be acquired without using county tax dollars.
Working with the federal agencies in the prosecution of Halifax County drug offenders, we are seeing more substantial prison time.
During the course of our continued federal investigations, federal agencies have requested our participation in the task force officer program.
This will enhance federal forfeitures and result in further federal prosecutions.
I am committed to the federal task force officer program. The Sheriff’s Office is currently an active member of the Federal East Force program with cases being prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of North Carolina.
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?
As your Sheriff, I manage approximately 90 employees, those sworn and non-sworn. I oversee a budget of approximately $6.
We do an excellent job. Could we do better? Yes. Are we perfect? No. With the tight budget, I have reallocated personnel, to address crime on a daily basis.
Others may make promises to get elected; a true leader makes it happen with what is allocated.
Please state the need for a new county jail or its expansion. Are there other ways to deal with inmate overcrowding beyond construction?
(See answer to the following the question)
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 was a jailer, employed with the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, when the current jail was erected in 1984, 30 years ago.
Our jail has an 85 bed capacity.
The jail expansion project has been in the planning stages for several years, before I took over as sheriff.
Recently during a jail inspection, the state inspector imposed a cap of 95 inmates, in-house, due to overcrowding issues.
With the assistance of the elected District Attorney Melissa Pelfrey, my staff along with the DA’s Office has been able to reduce the jail population to stay in compliance with the state mandated cap. This cooperation is necessary because the District Attorney has control of the court docket.
County Commissioners have decided to forego the jail expansion.
As a taxpayer serving taxpayers, I too do not want a tax increase. As your sheriff, I am working diligently with county management and legal to secure contracts with area counties to take care of the overflow of inmates.
As an administrator, it is my job to take what is allocated by the commissioners and make it work.
I am a firm believer, that if the court docket can be streamlined, we can maintain the 85 bed capacity. Because of the impending judicial district merger, this issue may have to be revisited because of whatever impact that may have.
Describe your vision for law enforcement in Halifax County.
Working together works. Continued cooperation and working with the different communities throughout Halifax County.
To promote initiatives which will coordinate efforts with all branches of law enforcement agencies and state and federal prosecutors, to better impact Halifax County and the surrounding areas.
Criminals have no jurisdiction issue.
I will not allow that to be an advantage. We will continue to enhance our efforts to fight crime in Halifax County.
The Jeffery Cotton murder case has yet to be solved. Amy Bridgeman has yet to be found. What are you doing, or what would youdo, to solve these two cases.
Concerning the open cases of Jeffrey Cotton and Amy Bridgeman, I cannot discuss the facts of those cases. I will not jeopardize the integrity of those cases.
