Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

I have 12 years of experience as a professional law enforcement manager and a total of 28 years  in a wide-range of criminal justice positions.  Areas of expertise include:  community program development; recruiting and selection; employee supervision and evaluation; budgeting; training; curriculum development; policies and procedures design and implementation as well as public relations.

My experience includes the following positions:

• State Antiterrorism Program Manager Virginia National Guard - 4/2007 to Present
• Task Force Officer FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force - 8/2007 to 6/2010
• Chief of Police Capitol Special Police - 8/2002 to Present
• Captain Army National Guard - 3/2000 to Present
• Investigator Halifax Police Department - 10/2007 to Present
• Chief of Police National Geospatial Intelligence Agency - 3/2006 to 2/2007
• Emergency Response Coordinator Weston Solutions@Nortel - 2/2000 to 6/2005
• Chief of Police Dorothea Dix Hospital Police - 11/1998 to 11/1999
• Manager of External Affairs NC Governor's Highway Safety - 3/98 to 11/1998
• Chief of Police Liberty, NC - 9/1997 to 12/1997
• Chief of Police Norwood, NC - 4/1996 to 9/1997
• Chief of Police Bladenboro, NC - 2/1994 to 4/1996
• Deputy Sheriff Wake County Sheriff's Office - 11/1990 to 2/1994
• Police Officer Cary, NC – 7/1986 to 11/1990

In addition I have been awarded the North Carolina Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the Sheriff Training and Standards Commission as well as the Criminal Justice Training and Standards Commission.  I earned a Master of Science degree from East Carolina University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Mount Olive College.

I have been a resident of Durham County since 2000 and am now a candidate for Sheriff for several reasons. First, I run because I am concerned Durham County is on a negative course being 6th highest county in NC for crime and 26th in the Nation for drug trafficking.  I run to propose a new approach to community policing and build agency alliances.  I have such strong feelings about what must be done to improve the reputation and record, and feel I'm obliged to do all I can to make things better.

I run because it is unmistakably clear we can change the outcome of our future and focus our hearts and minds out of the illusion that everything is OK. I run because we who wear a badge need to master the art of standing for what is right.

One can't go to the people of Durham County and tell them everything is OK. It is not satisfactory to have gang violence, drug violence, person on person violence at the rates we have in our area. It is not acceptable to allow this demise to continue. The citizens of Durham County deserve a Sheriff who will transcend violence and restore dignity to our county's name.

This is a time when threats to our community seem too big to be grasped.  This is a time when systems and organizations must work side by side. It is a time for us to be the guardians of our future.  It is a time to grow in our thinking and to apply a new sophistication to our efforts.  Now is the time to decide.

As Sheriff I will be able to bring new ideas, technology and energy to this office and make Durham County a safer place to live, work and play.