QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Questions in green where published in the St. Mary's County Chamber of Commerce Voter's Guide.
Questions in gold are from the League of Women Voters. These were UNASKED questions (due to time constraints) directed to all candidates.
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HOW DOES YOUR EXPERIENCE PREPARE YOU FOR THE DUTIES OF THIS OFFICE?During my 28 years of continuous service to the Sheriff’s Office, I have performed with the highest integrity in every division, reaching the rank of Captain.
As a Commander for the past 12 years, I have demonstrated my ability to develop and execute effective policing strategies that serve to reduce crime, maximize community engagement, and improve the quality of life for St. Mary’s Countians. -
HOW WOULD YOU REACH OUT TO COUNTY RESIDENTS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY?As the Commander of the Special Operations Division (SOD), my mission is to build relationships with faith-based organizations, schools, businesses, and, most importantly, neighborhoods.
As your Sheriff, I will also create Community Engagement Teams (CET), that build upon the principles of Community Policing and boost the relationship between the community and its law enforcement officers. -
WHAT POLICIES WILL YOU IMPLEMENT TO PREVENT DISCRIMINATION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT?Biased-based policing strategies are currently prohibited by law and our current policies support this.
In addition to adherence to the policies, deputies will be required to routinely attend anti-bias training and intervene to prevent bias-based actions by another member of the office. Supervisors are mandated to monitor and report suspected discrimination, which will be fully investigated. -
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE COUNTY?My top three priorities are:
1. To fully implement District Based Policing throughout the county to further reduce crime.
2. Maintain and safeguard public trust by integrity driven policies and constitutionally based enforcement.
3. Expand traffic safety initiatives and implement programs designed, not only to reduce accidents but to better manage traffic flow. -
WHAT SPECIFIC ROLE COULD THIS OFFICE PLAY IN CONFRONTING THE EPIDEMIC OF OPOID ABUSE?Recognizing that solutions to the opioid epidemic do not rest solely on the shoulders of law enforcement, I believe a combination of mental health and enforcement strategies are the most effective means to provide access to rehabilitation for drug addicted persons.
With respect to drug dealers, your Sheriff’s Office will work tirelessly to incarcerate them and seize their ill-gotten assets. -
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO STOP THE GUNSHOTS IN LEXINGTON PARK?Violent crime reduction requires both an intelligence-based and investigative-lead approach that targets specific individuals or groups rather than an entire neighborhood or community.
To accomplish this, I will continue to support the team of investigators who have been tasked with identifying and investigating offenders who use firearms to terrorize our community. I will also support enforcement strategies placing police officers in your neighborhoods to engage in purposeful, proactive policing which will help our officers intercept, detect, and deter crime before it occurs.
These same strategies will also present opportunities for officers to build relationships with residents and business owners who are critical partners in crime reduction and solving crime. -
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO GET PEOPLE OFF THIER CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING?I will create a strategic highway safety plan with the tri-county council to identify what’s needed to achieve our goal of zero traffic related deaths and serious accidents on our roadways.
One threat to our ability to achieve this goal is certainly distracted drivers. To mitigate this threat, use of directed patrols and state grant monies aimed specifically at distracted driving, along with educational advertisements highlighting the dangers of distracted driving will be used throughout the year.
The resulting increase of patrol and traffic safety units will then target and ticket drivers who are failing to commit their full attention to safe driving. I will also work with our States Attorney’s Office in an effort to ensure these cited drivers are held accountable in court. -
DO YOU FEEL HAVING EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE JOB?Absolutely.
It’s been shown time and again that public safety officers who know and live in the communities they serve are very effective. By virtue of residency, they have a vested interest in preventing crime, reducing fear of crime and solving it when it occurs.
Knowledge of the community is essential in the way in which different communities in our county are policed. They are very different. The more experience and time spent in and around the entire county allows an officer to know the subtle nuances to each.
For a Sheriff, it may be the most critical factor to possess, as your effectiveness will ultimately be determined by the trust the community has in you to be there for them. -
HAVE YOU HAD ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS IN YOUR CAREER?Yes I have. I have tried to use my mistakes as an opportunity to learn and have found it helpful to share them with subordinates to allow them to gain an understanding of how to avoid them in their careers.
I placed my entire disciplinary record online for public view. It can be viewed HERE. -
DO INMATES DESERVE HUMANE TREATMENT AND RIGHTS?Yes, wholly and unequivocally. I started my career as a Correctional Officer and am the only candidate with experience in Maryland correctional standards and practices. This is a huge part of the Sheriff’s responsibilities and is a constitutional mandated function of the Office. The 8th amendment protects defendants from cruel and unusual punishments. I swore an oath to uphold that.
We hold ourselves to the highest standards and this can be seen daily in the incredible work of our Correctional Officers, Professional staff, and the Detention and rehabilitation center; who ensure the safety and security of every inmate. -
DO YOU BELIEVE POLICE SHOULD ANSWER TO THIER COMMUNITIES WHEN MISCONDUCT OCCURS?Yes.
We at the St Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office have held our staff to the highest standards of conduct and we have a reputation of doing so.
In concert with recent legislative actions in Maryland, the Sheriff’s Office will fully participate in the new law allowing county citizens to take part in this process as never before. -
HOW CAN WE CITIZENS BE SURE NO MORE HOMES WILL BE SHOT AT DURING POLICE TRAINING?It comes down to training. When using firearms, all safety measures need to be observed and maintained throughout all training exercises.
This also points directly to our need for appropriate training facilities. We do not currently have a range facility of our own to allow for our staff, especially those with increased responsibility for critical response, to practice, qualify or hone these perishable skills.
As Sheriff, I intend to propose the development of a local facility be budgeted in the capital improvement plan. -
DO YOU THINK THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS PROPERLY FUNDED? ARE ST. MARY'S SALARIES COMPARATIVE TO SURROUNDING COUNITES?The budget for the Sheriff’s Office has grown considerably over the last five years and I do believe the Sheriff and the county have been able to make the compromises necessary to keep salaries and benefits comparable and competitive.
But as of July 1, 2022 our Sheriff’s Office will once again be the lowest paid in Southern Maryland. This is an ongoing process and I look forward to participating in it with the new Board of Commissioners. -
HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT ADDING CAMERAS TO NEIGHBORHOODS? OURS IS SPENDING $35,000 (NUMBER SLIGHTLY ILLEGIBLE) AND IT IS BREAKING US.I believe these types of cameras can be very helpful to law enforcement but need to be supported by the residents and never violate privacy in any way. Several HOA’s have elected to install cameras which have served them well.
The Sheriff’s Office can help communities with recommendations in the strategic placement of cameras as a part of a security survey but would not be responsible for the placement or management of these cameras.
