Some call community policing a philosophy, I call it a necessity. To me, it’s not just about law enforcement presence. It’s about partnerships, empowerment, and shared responsibility. I’ve seen it work firsthand, and while it’s an investment that takes time, it is one of the most effective tools for reducing crime and building safer neighborhoods.

This platform is grounded in my belief that law enforcement must walk with the people—not ahead of them, and certainly not against them.

From Enforcement to Empowerment

Our goal is to transition from simply policing our communities to partnering with them. True public safety happens when:

• Residents trust their deputies.
• Deputies are visible, known, and approachable.
• The Sheriff’s Office listens, and acts on what the public says it needs.

The COPS Unit: Embedded Service and Support

We will establish a dedicated Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Unit, embedded in 7 districts, aligned with the school district boundaries to ensure complete and equitable coverage across Spartanburg County.

The COPS Unit will:

• Serve as neighborhood connectors and liaisons.
• Oversee community outreach, education, and public information.
• Act as the cultural bridge between the Sheriff’s Office and the people we serve.
• Support every other division in the agency, and receive support in return.

This reciprocal relationship across divisions is vital for culture change and will allow the agency to transition into one that is truly community-centered.

Critical Incident Response: Respect, Transparency, and Compassion

When tragedy strikes, whether it’s a homicide or an officer-involved shooting, the impact ripples across entire neighborhoods. While investigations must proceed properly, we also have a duty to the community to be transparent, supportive, and compassionate.

That’s why we will form a Critical Incident Response Team under the COPS Unit. This multi-agency team will:

• Engage communities immediately after critical events.
• Provide accurate information and support to affected neighborhoods.
• Ensure that residents are not left in the dark or dismissed during times of fear and grief.
• Acknowledge that trauma isn’t isolated to victims, it’s felt by the entire community.

Listening Through Action: Community Surveys

We will send regular community surveys throughout the county to:

• Gather resident feedback on local crime, safety concerns, and quality of life.
• Identify gaps between public perception and actual agency performance.
• Use results to refine training, shift resources, and better serve our residents.

This feedback loop ensures the public’s voice is not just heard—but respected and used to drive policy.

Sustainable Community Advisory Groups

Community advisory groups aren’t new, but making them effective and lasting is the challenge. The difference? Action.

Led by the COPS Unit, we will build Community Advisory Groups in each district, composed of:

• Local residents
• Faith leaders
• Business owners
• Educators and youth advocates

These groups will only be sustainable if they see real results from their input. I commit to listening, responding, and implementing the community’s ideas where possible—and explaining clearly when we cannot. That’s transparency. That’s leadership.

In Closing

I believe in community policing not because it sounds good on a campaign sign, but because I’ve seen it work. I’ve walked those streets. I’ve stood in front of classrooms. I’ve sat in front of grieving families and stood beside concerned neighbors.

This is personal to me.

We won’t solve every problem overnight. But with the right leadership, the right structure, and a heart for the people, we can create a Sheriff’s Office that the people of Spartanburg County trust, respect, and stand with.

Community Policing isn’t a tactic. It’s a promise. And I intend to keep it.