As your candidate for Sheriff, my pledge is a “Commitment to Community through Experience,” focusing on rebuilding trust through unwavering accountability and genuine community partnerships. I will hold myself and the entire agency to the highest standards, implementing the “Three C’s” – Clarity, Communication, and Consequence – to ensure everyone understands their roles and is held to the same standard. We will transform our agency by realigning it to meet today’s needs and Department of Justice best practices, shifting to proactive community engagement, and ensuring fiscal responsibility with public budget reports and annual audits. A dedicated COPS Unit will be embedded in our communities, aligned with school districts, to serve as neighborhood connectors and build lasting relationships. We’ll also establish a Critical Incident Response Team to provide transparency and support during crises.

Supporting the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office is paramount to serving you effectively. I will immediately work with County Council to address deputy pay, developing a multi-phase plan to make our compensation competitive and reward experience. Beyond pay, I will foster a culture of servant leadership to restore morale, focusing on open communication and respect. This includes robust health, wellness, and fitness programs, with an emphasis on mental health support, recognizing the trauma our deputies face. We’ll also support our deputies’ families by establishing a Spousal Support Group. Furthermore, I am committed to enhancing school safety through advanced SRO training and engaging students through education. We will also expand counseling and post-release support for those in our detention center to break the cycle of recidivism, and broaden our chaplaincy program to support the spiritual wellness of our deputies and community.

My vision is a Sheriff’s Office that is honest, transparent, and responsible, from top to bottom. By investing in our deputies, partnering with our citizens, and leading with integrity, we will build an agency that Spartanburg County can be proud of, one founded on Community, Experience, and Trust.