Bio

I am a native of Halifax County, attended Halifax County Public Schools and graduated from William R. Davie High School.

Family, Church and Civic: Two children and three grandchildren

My daughter is a Ultrasongrapher at a local doctor’s office

My son is a State Trooper with the North Carolina Highway Patrol

A member and attend Rosemary United Methodist Church

Former Member of Church Administrative Committee

President of my Homeowner’s Association

Member of the Widow’s Son Masonic Lodge #519 since 1977

Professional/Education:

30-plus years as a law enforcement officer

25 years Halifax County Sheriff’s Office

16 years as Chief Deputy, major in the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office

Associate Degree in Police Science

28 years NC National Guard – Command Sergeant Major

Two years as Magistrate

Several thousand hours of training during career

Halifax County Law Enforcement Officer of the year award

Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate

Law Enforcement Advanced Service Award

Life time member Halifax County Law Enforcement Officers Association

Past President, Secretary, Treasurer of Halifax County Law Enforcement Association

Past member of Halifax County Safety Committee

Life Time Member Enlisted Association of National Guard of United States

Department of The Army Distinguished Trainee Certificate

Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year Award

Currently police Officer with Roanoke Rapids Police and Scotland Neck Police, retired from Halifax County Sheriff’s Office to run for Sheriff

Why are you running?

My entire career in law enforcement has been in service to the citizens of Halifax County. As sheriff I will be able to utilize the experience I have gained in law enforcement, the military and judicial service to provide efficient and effective service to the citizens of halifax county. It has been a long time desire to serve our county as sheriff.

What is the biggest issue facing the Halifax County Sheriff's Office?

The biggest issue facing halifax county sheriff’s office is providing effective law enforcement to ensure a safe environment in our schools, communities, and workplaces. This will require a joint effort by all agencies and departments working together to identify and establish procedures to accomplish our common goal in reducing and preventing crime.

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

In a rural setting, such as Halifax County, law abiding citizens would be encouraged to organize crime watch programs and meet with law enforcement on a regular bases to exchange ideas and share information on ways and means to assist one another.

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 short, the state has specifically outlawed internet sweepstakes cafes and the law should be enforced or repealed.

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?

There is no question that cooperation and support among all local law enforcement agencies is necessary and beneficial for all concerned. This works because a joint effort will be the most effective way to utilize available resources. I will make every effort to join all law enforcement agencies together in dealing with crime.

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?

Federal adoption of local cases has proven to be very effective in local cases. I will make the feds aware of how important their assistance in local cases is needed and request they be continued.

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?

Identifying and implementing ways to prevent and reduce crime needs to be addressed. This can only be achieved through collaboration with all local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and citizen groups sharing and implementing ideas to deal with crime.

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

The jail capacity has been established by the North Carolina Jail Standards and we have no alternative but to comply. However, with assistance of our district attorney, judges, magistrates and utilizing available jail space in neighboring counties the over crowding conditions of the jail can be managed.

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?

Rather than expanding the jail at a cost of millions of dollars at the expense of the taxpayers we have more important needs, such as improvements in our schools through out the county. There is no question in my mind the commissioners made the right decision. Other viable arrangements for our over-crowding conditions at the jail can be made as mentioned above.

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

The sheriff’s office can be more proactive by encouraging law abiding individuals to confidentially/anonymously share any information with law enforcement that they feel would endanger or put our schools, communities and workplaces at risk. Law abiding citizens are very much aware of potential criminal activity and can be a tremendous assistance to law enforcement and should be encouraged to share this information

Describe your vision for law enforcement in Halifax County.

My vision for law enforcement in Halifax County is to unite all local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in an effort to reduce and prevent 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 you do, to solve these two cases?

Individually assign an investigator to each case with explicit instructions to review and re-examine all information and evidence, including re-interviewing prospective witnesses to make sure no information is overlooked. Investigators should be in frequent contact with the victim’s family to keep them informed of the status of the case and assure them the case will remain active until solved.