To the citizens of Hampton,

I am confident that through hands-on leadership, I can restore the Hampton Sheriff’s Office to a healthy state with high staff morale, an increased focus on public safety, sound finances, and accountability to those who elect me.

It is important to consider that the role of Sheriff extends far beyond maintaining order in the jail facilities and courts.  This position involves many behind-the-scenes duties that are crucial to the well being of the organization. 

Policy & Procedures
First and foremost is establishing the direction of the Hampton Sheriff’s Office through policy and procedure.  When elected, I will:

• Restore my deputies’ authority to make criminal arrests, which was taken away under the current Sheriff.  Having this power will help to ensure public safety in the City of Hampton by increasing the number of trained professionals who can respond in case of emergency and take immediate action upon their arrival.

• Restore my deputies’ ability to work extra-duty assignments, also done away with under current leadership.  Venues such as Langley Speedway, Hampton AMC 24, Hampton Coliseum and high school football and basketball games depend on extra-duty law enforcement officers for security, which provides you and your family with a safe environment and enjoyable experience.  In addition, in these troubled economic times, it is imperative that the staff be permitted to work extra-duty assignments to supplement their income.

Both of these policy decisions put the Hampton Sheriff’s Office in a mode of regression, in which its deputies are now being looked upon as correctional officers or jailors, rather than law enforcement professionals, a status that they have earned.  This is a step backward when compared to other Sheriff’s Offices, who are training their deputies to be as well-rounded as possible.  I will return the Hampton Sheriff’s Office to this forward-thinking direction.

Leadership
Another critical responsibility of the Sheriff is to manage a staff of 136 sworn officers and 51 civilian personnel who perform demanding duties.  When elected, I will:

• Establish a legitimate process for promotions, in which seniority means something.  Hard work and dedication to duties will be rewarded, and I will encourage my staff to work toward positions of leadership through professional development opportunities. 

• Return to a consistent and fair disciplinary process, where policy and procedure—rather than leaders’ opinions—dictate the outcomes.  This process will be a progressive system, with a series of consequences ranging from a warning to termination, based on the severity of and number of times an offense has occurred.  I will also revise the current disciplinary appeals process such that staff members will always be seen on appeal to explain themselves when so much is at stake.

I will empower my deputies to perform their duties without worry, and instead with a solid understanding that carelessness and repeated mistakes will not be tolerated. I will remove the fear and the intimidation factor that currently exist, making employees afraid that a simple mistake or human error will cost them their job.

I want a staff that desires to work under my leadership, in which staff members are willing to volunteer their time for community service activities and not feel forced to do so.  I intend to build morale by being honest, fair and consistent, and accessible to those who want to share ideas and concerns. Further, I will insist on honest opinions from those who are asked to give them, to ensure that the final decisions that I will personally make are thought through completely before action is taken. 

Accountability
A third facet of the role of Sheriff is accountability to the citizens, who support the Sheriff and put him in office.  As Sheriff, I will:

• Restore a system of fiscal responsibility.  The Sheriff’s Office budget, made up of your tax dollars, must be managed by experienced and educated personnel, and spent based on priority.  I will focus on the purchase and replacement of essential equipment and supplies, keeping the Sheriff’s Office functioning efficiently, effectively and safely.  Discretionary monies will be spent wisely, with the good of the whole organization in mind.

• Open my door to you and personally return your phone calls.  As Sheriff, I will be present, visible and accountable to you and to my staff, addressing your concerns in a professional and direct way.  I will take suggestions without a show of pride, working constantly to keep the Sheriff’s Office performing at its best.

I intend to lead the Hampton Sheriff’s Office in a hands-on way, communicating with my staff and making sure that I am available to them when I am needed. At the same time, based on expertise and experience, my administrative directors will have the authority and freedom to supervise and manage their responsibilities and personnel, while keeping me abreast of their divisions’ status.  I will ensure that policies and procedures are followed closely, so that your interest is protected and your safety is not put into question. 

Integrity
A high level of integrity is expected of the Sheriff, an elected official and important figure in the area of public safety in a city.  When elected, I will represent you with the utmost integrity, and always keeping in mind the best interests of my staff.

Many decisions made under the current leadership are the result of pursuing various state and national accreditations for the Hampton Sheriff’s Office.  Accreditation signifies that an agency has reached a prestigious position above and beyond the requirements of their governing authority. 

An important component in the accreditation process is determining which accreditations are relevant to the agency.  The American Correctional Association (ACA) and National Correctional Commission on Health Care (NCCHC) accreditations—both of which are currently held by the Hampton Sheriff’s Office—are applicable and worthy awards.

However, the most recently acquired accreditation, through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), is not relevant to the Hampton Sheriff’s Office.  This award is intended for police agencies with patrol responsibilities; however, correctional agencies may apply with the caveat that they eliminate any law enforcement responsibilities from their deputies’ job descriptions.   In order to obtain this award, the Hampton Sheriff’s Office had to request numerous accreditation standard exemptions and complete an overhaul of policies and procedures—which took away the deputies’ power of arrest and ability to work extra-duty assignments.  In addition, pursuit of this accreditation cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars and took up hours of staff time that could have been used to develop practical on-the-job skills.

I suggest that, rather than pursuing high-profile awards, the focus should be put on those that matter most: the staff.  As Sheriff, I will work to strengthen the department from within its workforce, creating an effective, dedicated and proud organization.

To learn more about Jim’s views on the issues, please attend and ask questions at one of my scheduled campaign events or plan to attend a candidate’s debate for Hampton Sheriff.  Date and time TBD––

Please revisit my web site and the “News and Events” web page.  The date and time information for my events and debates will be posted as soon as they are scheduled.

Thank you for considering my stance on these issues.

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