My Vision for the Salem Sheriff's Office
Youth Impact Plan
An area I have been passionate about and will continue to do so is when it comes to protecting and impacting our youth.
As your next Sheriff for the City of Salem, it is my goal to enhance what influence and contribution the Sheriff’s Office can provide to our youth. Our youth is our city’s future and there is no greater investment we can make. With that in mind, I wanted to outline just a few examples of my plan to improve the lives for our youth in the City of Salem.
𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢 – The Salem Police Department has been offering a form of the Explorer Program since 1976. Many current and former law enforcement officers throughout the state have been a product of this effective program. Not only is this program teaching our youth about a career in law enforcement, but it is also allowing them to see our law enforcement officers at a more personal level, thus bridging the gap between our law enforcement officers and today’s youth. I have seen first-hand the effectiveness of this program as my brother and many of my closest friends were positively impacted during their teenage years by the Salem Police Explorer Post 606.
If elected as your next Sheriff, I would request a meeting with the administrative staff of the Salem Police Department to discuss ways the Sheriff’s Office can work collectively with this program. Working collaboratively with the police department would not only show today’s youth another path for a career in law enforcement, but it will also further enhance the relationship between the two agencies.
𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙧 – The Salem Police Department is one of the few agencies in the State of Virginia or throughout the country who have committed to placing an officer in every school. This is a tremendous achievement, and our city is fortunate that the Salem School Division has welcomed this initiative. A Police Department or Sheriff’s Office doesn’t get to make the decision solely to have a dedicated SRO program within their schools. There is a Memorandum of Understanding created between the Police Department and the School Division which outlines the plan, purpose and utilization of School Resource Officers within the schools.
Let me be clear, the Salem Police Department does a tremendous job with this and arguably has the best SROs in the state of VA. It is not my goal to replace or impede their program or influence any changes in what they’ve already established. It is simply my plan and goal to have deputies available as needed to assist with the schools upon request from the Police Department. This need may arise because of staffing shortages, active threat at a school requiring additional resources, natural disasters, after-hour school sponsored activities, etc.
In 2020, the state of Virginia established new guidelines and regulations for School Resource Officers. This deputy would need to obtain Law Enforcement Certification in addition to their Jailor Court Services Certification. They would also need to complete the DCJS approved Basic School Resource Officer course, which is offered free of charge by DCJS.
Like the Explorer Program, I would discuss my plan in detail with the Administrative Command Staff of the Salem Police Department. If we come to an understanding, then I would then seek to meet with the School Division requesting an amendment to include the Sheriff’s Office as needed when the next drafting of the memorandum of understanding was to be completed.
𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙢 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 - The Salem Prevention Planning Team (SPPT) is partnered with Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition (RAYSAC) and many others. Through my career in law enforcement, I spent much of my time as a forensics officer and detective. In both roles, I have seen firsthand the destruction substance abuse can have on an individual and their family. I have planned and coordinated many of Salem’s Drug Take Back events and through the one’s I managed, we were able to safely dispose of approximately 4,200lbs of prescription drugs that didn’t make it into the hands of our youth. This was an endeavor that we wouldn’t have been able to achieve without the assistance from organizations like the Salem Prevention Planning Team.
If elected as the next Sheriff in the City of Salem, I would seek to continue to work with the Salem Prevention Planning Team and continue to combat substance abuse in the City of Salem.
𝙇𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 – During my years as a forensics officer and detective I investigated many sexual assault cases. Any crime against a person is unacceptable, but these types of crimes have long lasting effects on a victim well after the conviction or case has ended. This can be particularly hard when the victim is a minor. When I was a Detective, I was the lead investigator for a greater percentage of these types of cases. Seeking proper justice for victims in these cases became a passion of mine. To increase my effectiveness in these cases, I attended hundreds of hours of specialized training specific to these types of crimes. I worked and trained collectively with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Child Advocacy Center, TAP and many other agencies. Through these efforts, we obtained convictions for many offenders and even received awards for our high level of success in management and effective prosecutions of these types of cases.
If elected as your next Sheriff, I would like to continue my efforts in helping victims of these types of crimes and increase their success in recovery by working collectively with the Lampstand Safehouse. The Lampstand is the only residential program in Virginia dedicated to serving juvenile survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking. Their twelve-month program provides a safe space and comprehensive trauma-informed care for girls ages 12-17 years old. Lampstand Safehouse partners with many area agencies and advocacy groups working collectively to aid and assist these young people in their recovery from trauma.
𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝘾𝙖𝙢𝙥 – The summer months can be daunting and stressful for working or single parent families who want to ensure their child is in a safe and positive environment when they’re not in school.
If elected as your next Sheriff in the City of Salem, I would seek to start a weekday camp for our area’s youth. This camp would be held on two different weeks during the summer and would be split into age groups. Week 1 would consist of youth ranging in ages from 6-10 and week 2 would consist of ages 11-15. During the weeklong day camp, youth will learn character building, confidence building, life skills, and about a career in law enforcement all while playing games and having fun. I would seek to work collectively with several community groups and advocacy groups to provide supportive services to any youth or their families who may need services.
In closing, preparedness is an essential part of the safety and future of the City of Salem and The Salem Sheriff’s Office. It is better to be proactive rather than reactive in all we do. Through the efforts outlined, the youth in the City of Salem can be greatly impacted while also building strong and cohesive relationships with agencies and community groups throughout the City of Salem and the Roanoke Valley.
It is very difficult to outline every detail into words, so I encourage anyone who wishes to discuss any of this further, please reach out. If you’re interested in helping in any of these areas, also please reach out. No person can do any of this alone and it takes a community for true change. I thank all of you for your time spent reading this and I humbly and graciously ask for your vote!
Increased Training and Preparedness
Benjamin Franklin once said, "By failing to prepare, you're preparing to fail." This is a quote that is particularly applicable to the law enforcement profession. The strategies of effective policing have changed significantly throughout the years. If elected as your next sheriff, I have some key components I would plan to put into motion to create a more prepared Sheriff’s Office.
Law Enforcement Certification
In Virginia there are two certifications offered through the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). These certifications consist of Jailor / Court Services which is 11 weeks in length and Basic Law Enforcement which is 21 weeks in length.
My 20 years of law enforcement experience comprises of service at both the Salem Sheriff’s Office and the Salem Police Department. This afforded me the opportunity to attend both the Jailor / Court Services course and the Basic Law Enforcement course. I can speak firsthand of the tremendous benefit of attending both basic courses. Currently at the Salem Sheriff’s Office approximately 25% of the deputies are law enforcement certified. Most of those deputies have this certification because it was obtained while working at their previous departments. It is my long-term goal to have all deputies at the Salem Sheriff’s Office obtain this law enforcement certification. Having deputies obtain this certification is free through the Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy. Member agencies of the Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy pay a set fee each year and that fee allows deputies to attend most training free of charge. The Basic Law Enforcement course is one of these offered free courses and is held 2 – 3 times annually.
In our neighboring agencies of Roanoke City and Roanoke County, it is normal practice for any deputy who is tasked with the duties of court services, civil process, prisoner transport or school resource officer to attend the Basic Law Enforcement course. All the previously stated tasks, except for the School Resource Officer, are the current primary functions of the Salem Sheriff’s Office. This lends the question of why does the surrounding jurisdictions send deputies to obtain law enforcement certification, but Salem does not? Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office even goes a step further and sends any of their supervisory staff (Sergeant and above) to the law enforcement school.
Here is my viewpoint of the benefits of having Salem Sheriff’s Office deputies become law enforcement certified.
Operational Readiness
When a deputy is conducting a prisoner transport or civil process, they are in uniform and often in a marked sheriff’s emergency vehicle. In a prepared mindset, it is possible that a citizen may have an emergency and the first person the citizen may see for help could be a Salem Deputy. I want the deputies of the Sheriff’s Office to be well equipped and prepared to manage a citizen’s need immediately and effectively. At a minimum, I would expect the Salem Deputy to safely manage the situation until Salem Police can arrive to assist or take over.
Collaboration
Deputies obtaining law enforcement certification will allow a more cohesive relationship with the Salem Police Department while also lessening the burden of officer shortages.
Enforcing criminal law in the City of Salem primarily is the responsibility of the Police Department. It is not my intention to absorb this role as The Salem Police Department does a wonderful and effective job with this. What is a burden at times is the high number of special events hosted within the City of Salem. These events are a tremendous benefit to the City of Salem, but they also require a lot of resources and hours from the Salem Police Department.
With Salem Deputies being law enforcement certified, this will better allow for the Salem Sheriff’s Office to supplement needed law enforcement officers for City of Salem hosted events. This lessens the burden on the workforce for the police department, while increasing the safety of all persons attending a Salem event.
School Resource Officers
I previously shared a detailed breakdown of my Youth Impact Plan which included supplemental School Resource Officers as needed. Deputies obtaining law enforcement certification is the first step towards this goal. You can learn more about how I would structure the School Resource Officer plan by reviewing my Youth Impact plan which is on my website or social media pages.
Safer Deputies and Safer Citizens
The Basic Law Enforcement course is 10 weeks longer than the Basic Jailor / Court Services course. That is almost double the amount of offered training for free. This additional time is spent on courses that are specific to a deputy’s safety, proper response to persons with emotional or mental disorders, active shooter responses and much more. Deputies receiving this additional 10 weeks of free training would produce a more prepared and safer deputy which directly results in a safer citizen encounter and safer city overall.
I understand the uniqueness of how the Salem Sheriff’s Office is structured as I once was a deputy there. I know this is a goal that would take years to implement. The training is free but scheduling consideration and adjustments would need to be made to allow one deputy at a time to attend this training course. Just because something is a temporary inconvenience though is not a reason to not do it, especially if it produces a better trained deputy and office.
Continued Training and Development
In addition to the Basic Law Enforcement course, I will ensure that all deputies are continually invested in and developed. Deputies will be invested in through additional specialized training and certifications. They will be recognized for their efforts and afforded opportunities through their hard work and committed service.
Future plans and ideas are great, but you cannot build a proper house without a solid foundation, so this is why I spent so much time emphasizing the importance of the Basic Law Enforcement course versus fancy titled schools and ideas.
I know this has been a lot of information and I thank you for taking the time to read. There are many more details related to this topic, but it is impossible to list it all. I am always willing to speak with anyone who has additional questions or concerns related to this topic or any others. If you wish to discuss it further, do not hesitate to contact me and I will be sure to answer your questions or concerns.
