Position/philosophy statement
My focus is on the safety & security of the citizens of Scotland County & the men and women of the Sheriff's Office. To provide all citizens with the best service possible. To be a leader that is fair, impartial, dedicated and consistent.
Current Occupation
Captain over Field Services & Training & Standards at the Scotland County Sheriff's Office
Age (optional)
50
Campaign Phone
910-280-2657
I have served the citizens of Scotland County for over 28 years. The first 16 years were spent with the Laurinburg Police Department, and the last 12 with the Scotland County Sheriff's Office. I have worked my way up through the ranks into various leadership positions within each agency. I have patrolled the streets and community, spent time as a School Resource Officer, written and managed several grants, and built lasting relationships with community leaders and organizations, other law enforcement agencies, and our citizens. I've managed staff and assisted in the day-to-day operations of the Sheriff's Office. I work closely with the chief deputy in managing our agency budget.
Currently, recruitment and maintaining staff are our biggest challenges. The Scotland County Sheriff's Office is one of the lowest-paid law enforcement agencies in our surrounding area. The starting pay is several thousand dollars below what is paid in our neighboring counties. Also, the county currently offers no incentives to attract recruits. We lose good, hardworking deputies and detention officers frequently. Often their reason for leaving is for better pay and incentives. We have become a training ground or stepping stone for a lot of young officers .
I would like to build on the foundation of good programs that we have started over the past 12 years. Most importantly, I'd love to see us get approved for additional positions for patrol, narcotics division, and our detention center. For that to happen, our commissioners are going to have to increase pay significantly. This is a dangerous profession, and lack of manpower reduces response time, creates safety issues for all involved, and could cause crimes to go unsolved. But, once we are fully staffed, I'd love to see us get back into the neighborhoods and connect with the community members to better understand their concerns and begin to work on them. We can not do our job as we should without help from from our neighbors.
No matter what anyone's opinion is of the sheriff's office at this time, I will say that we do a really good job of providing safety and security for those living in Scotland County. As I mentioned earlier, with more funding, we can have more deputies. This will reduce response time while answering calls for service. We could increase our narcotics investigations and devote more time to our property and financial crimes. It would also allow us to spend more time in neighborhoods connecting with our youth.
Our current sheriff and a few volunteers started a re-entry program at the detention center. On site visitaions were regularly made and had great participation. The program then received some grant funding and was removed from our control to DSS. Since then, participation is severely lacking. I'd love to see it go back to the way it started. Also, I would speak with our DA and judges to see if they would allow some version of work release or home monitoring for low-level non-violent offenders. That would give them a chance to find or maintain employment, reduce overcrowding in the detention center, and cut the housing costs associated with being confined. Of course, there would be strict guidelines in place in order for that to happen.
I am a lifelong resident of Scotland County. I have several vested interests as a husband, father, and small business owner. I am dedicated to seeing our community thrive. I have served and continue to serve this county day in and day out with all my heart and soul. What I have discovered over the past 28 years is that law enforcement consists of about 5% knowledge of the law, 5% application of it, and the other 80% is using common sense, common decency, and being able to talk to people. With my experience, training, and education, I firmly believe that I am the best choice to lead the Scotland County Sheriff's Office.
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Position/philosophy statement
Change for a better tomorrow
Current Occupation
Sergeant FirstHealth Police
Age (optional)
52
Campaign Phone
9102172858
Law enforcement professional with 30 years of experience at the Laurinburg Police Department, beginning service as a Police Officer and advancing through progressive leadership roles to Lieutenant. Extensive background in K-9 operations, narcotics enforcement, gang investigations, and unit supervision.
Served as K-9 Supervisor and Gang Unit Supervisor, overseeing personnel, operations, and strategic enforcement initiatives. Actively contributed to officer development and community engagement as Advisor for Explorer Post 400, a program that produced a significant number of new Laurinburg Police officers, and as Coordinator of the City of Laurinburg Community Watch Program.
Holds Advanced Criminal Justice Certification, Advanced Sheriff’s
The department faces a high call volume while operating under a limited budget, placing significant strain on available resources. Officers are underpaid, resulting in challenges with recruitment, training, and long-term employee retention. Limited funding restricts access to advanced and ongoing training, further impacting operational effectiveness.
In addition, increased emphasis is needed on proactive criminal investigations to deter drug activity and reduce violent and property crimes, including aggravated assault and breaking and entering. Addressing these issues is critical to improving officer performance, enhancing community safety, and stabilizing the department’s workforce.
Public service should be rooted in a servant-leadership philosophy, prioritizing direct engagement and accountability to the community. Under the current administrative approach, there appears to be insufficient emphasis on this principle. As a result, officer response times to calls for service are often delayed sometimes exceeding one hour and in some cases, responses are handled by telephone rather than in person.
When a citizen requests police assistance, they should reasonably expect a face-to-face interaction with an officer. Personal contact is essential for accurate assessments, community confidence, and effective problem-solving. The absence of timely, in-person responses risks weakening public trust and diminishing the perceived
Increased funding would allow for enhanced training opportunities, modernized equipment, and the development of well-rounded, confident officers capable of responding effectively to today’s public safety challenges. Properly funded training improves decision-making, officer safety, and community interactions, while updated equipment ensures officers can perform their duties efficiently and professionally.
Investing in personnel and resources strengthens morale, improves retention, and results in higher-quality service to the public. Well-trained and properly equipped officers are better prepared to handle complex calls, engage the community face-to-face, and proactively address crime, ultimately leading to safer neighborhoods.
Offering GED preparation classes and partnering with Richmond Community College to provide technical and skilled trade training would help individuals gain the education and job skills necessary to become employable and self-sufficient. Access to these programs can reduce recidivism, strengthen the local workforce, and provide meaningful alternatives to criminal activity.
By investing in education and vocational pathways, the community can address the root causes of crime while promoting long-term economic stability. These initiatives support public safety by creating opportunities for individuals to contribute positively to the community rather than reentering the criminal justice system.
Scotland County needs a working Sheriff—one who understands the real-world conditions faced by road deputies and the daily challenges of frontline law enforcement. Effective leadership requires firsthand knowledge of patrol operations, staffing limitations, call volume, and the split-second decisions officers must make.
The Sheriff must be committed to fair, impartial, and consistent enforcement of the law, applied equally to all citizens without favoritism or political influence. Leadership grounded in experience, accountability, and integrity is essential to restoring confidence within the agency and trust within the community.
