Curtis R. Brame – Vance Co. Sheriff Candidate Q&A

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Name: Curtis R. Brame

Candidate For: Vance County Sheriff

Age: 55

Town of Residence: Henderson

Previous position(s) held: Deputy, Sergeant, Lieutenant Captain, Sheriff’s Command Staff, Personnel Board, Assistant to Administrative Captain

Degrees/Certifications Earned: Basic Law Enforcement Certified; Actively Sworn; 33 years of continued education

Endorsements: Vance County Sheriff Peter White

 

What motivated you to run for Vance County Sheriff?

 I enjoy serving and protecting the citizens of Vance County. I’m tired of watching our citizens live in fear. I want the opportunity to restore some sense of security, ensure safety in our communities, schools, church and work.

 

What distinguishes you from other candidates?

Talking to people and being proactive is my character and keeps me in touch with the needs of our community. With 33 years as a law enforcement officer, I am confident in saying I am well trained and skilled, possess a strong work ethic and have an excellent work history.  I believe in being fair and standing behind everything I do.

I’ve worked in every division through the Vance County Sheriff’s Office. I was hired as a deputy, later promoted to Sergeant, then Lieutenant, served as part of the Sheriff’s Command Staff and later retired with the rank of Captain. I believe in filling in the gap between law enforcement and the people we serve.

 

What do you believe is the single most important skill to possess in order to be a successful sheriff?

The ability to not only hear the concerns of the citizen but to also listen to what is important to them.

 

If elected, would you keep the Sheriff’s department moving along its current path or change the course?

As a new administrator, I would make some adjustments, modifications and do some re-organization.

 

What do you believe is the biggest concern facing Vance County today and what would you do as Sheriff to address that concern?

Narcotics/illegal and prescription drugs and illegal use of firearms; proactive stand, joint enforcement task force. I would like to see more drug and weapons-related cases tried at the Federal Court level for the convicted to receive longer and stiffer penalties.

We need more resources for individuals with addictions. We also need places to go and things for our children and teenagers to do for growth and recreational purposes. My plan is to also increase personnel to have more manpower in the department to provide adequate services for our citizens.

 

(The photo accompanying this article provided by Curtis R. Brame)

Melissa Elliott – Vance Co. Sheriff Candidate Q&A

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Name: Melissa Elliott

Candidate For: Vance County Sheriff

Age: 48

Town of Residence: Henderson

Previous position(s) held: Gang Resource Officer; Jail Liaison; Vance County Sheriff Office 911 Dispatcher; Correctional Officer; Correctional Case Manager; Gang Intel Committee; Family Enrichment Worker

Degrees/Certifications Earned: Associate Degree in Criminal Justice – Vance-Granville Community College; Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice – St. Augustine University; Master of Public Administration – Strayer University; Post Master’s Certificate in Criminal Justice; General Instructor – Criminal Justice

 

What motivated you to run for Vance County Sheriff?

I am running for the Office of the Sheriff to better the community in which I live and serve by implementing innovative strategies that would increase the safety in our community, as well as bring a greater quality of life to all of our citizens.

As a young girl, I felt compassion towards the needs of others and as a young woman acknowledged there was a great call of “leadership” on my life. Now, I am a community champion who embraces the call of God to bring change in areas that seemingly are difficult.

I am grateful and deem it an honor to be considered to serve the citizens of Vance County in the capacity of Sheriff.

 

What distinguishes you from other candidates?

I feel distinguished in this election for Sheriff in several different ways. First and foremost, I am a woman who fears God AND I am accessible to ALL people. I have proven my loyalty and dedication over the years in this community as one who hurdles over challenges and yields positive results and solutions.

Secondly, I have the educational background that, unmatched by any other candidate, makes me extremely and uniquely qualified and knowledgeable in the areas of crime prevention, as well as other evidence-based strategies that have been implemented by other jurisdictions. My Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) allows me to demonstrate knowledge, skills and abilities that are pertinent to leading the Office of Sheriff.

The trust that I have garnered in the community, along with my diverse background in criminal justice (in several capacities) and my educational background (MPA, Post Master’s Certificate and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice) have prepared me for the tasks that lie ahead.

Lastly, I have extensive knowledge on a societal issue (gangs) that has plagued many communities. My in-depth research and relationships in criminal street gangs will also illuminate strategies that will prevent many youths from becoming emerged in a life that only ends in tragedy; intervene to save lives and suppress those who have no desire to change.

 

What do you believe is the single most important skill to possess in order to be a successful sheriff?

The single most important skill to possess to be a successful sheriff is communication. Oral and written communication is key in the daily operation of any administration. The Sheriff needs to be able to effectively communicate with his or her staff, the public and the citizens that have elected them to serve. Communication involves executing directives, listening to the concerns of others to create and implement effective strategies for all who are involved.

 

If elected, would you keep the Sheriff’s department moving along its current path or change the course?

As the elected Sheriff, I would assess the effectiveness of all units and daily operations. After the assessment is complete, I would gradually implement strategies to improve the quality of service for citizens of our great county. I do not believe in recreating the wheel; however, I do believe in improvement. Training would be an essential tool as well as programs and evidence-based strategies for a more proactive approach to the challenges our community faces.

I strongly believe in prevention i.e. G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training), the Dare Program, the Step Up Initiative and other programs that would address mental illness and substance abuse disorders. Community Watch is also an extremely important program that would continue its momentum with workshops and speakers who bring information to the citizens as well as listening to the concerns of the community.

 

What do you believe is the biggest concern facing Vance County today and what would you do as Sheriff to address that concern?

Vance County has several concerns that are interrelated and it is extremely difficult to address only one and believe that the problem is fixed. Economic growth and development, or lack thereof, which has caused an extremely high poverty rate in Vance County has developed many challenges that we face. Gun violence, substance abuse, gangs, recidivism, changing the trajectory of our children’s future, weapons reduction; the list can go on and on.

As the Sheriff of Vance County, I would hone in on prevention with our youth in the way of programs, by assigning deputies to work with students in the elementary school as well as the community through the G.R.E.A.T. program and partner with churches, nonprofits and other stakeholders to increase positive impact.

To reduce gang activity and criminal offenses I would implement a gang unit to focus on gang culture, trends and criminal activity, as well as put in place a system to classify and identify gang members in our community. I would also continue the momentum with the gun buyback program to obtain firearms.

Working previously in the Vance County Jail as well as the North Carolina Department of Public Safety has given me direct insight on the classification of offenders and the evidence-based programs that will assist in a productive transition. Obtaining the status from the Federal government to name our county as a HIDTA (High Intense Drug Traffic Area) would assist in many ways. The HIDTA program currently funds 752 initiatives throughout the nation, including:

  • Enforcement initiatives comprising multi-agency investigative, interdiction, and prosecution activities;
  • Intelligence and information-sharing initiatives;
  • Support for programs that provide assistance beyond the core enforcement and intelligence and information-sharing initiatives; and
  • Drug use prevention and drug treatment initiatives

As the Sheriff of Vance County, I would listen to the citizens and their concerns as well as be accessible to all people by communicating effectively.

 

(The photo accompanying this article provided by Melissa Elliott.)

Billy Gooch – Vance Co. Sheriff Candidate Q&A

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Name: Billy Gooch

Candidate For: Vance County Sheriff

Age: 37

Town of Residence: Henderson

Previous position(s) held: Sergeant of Criminal Investigation Division/K-9 Handler at Vance County Sheriff’s Office

Degrees/Certifications Earned: Basic Law Enforcement Training; Radar Operator Certification; DCI Certification; Police Law Institute Training; Narcotics Investigation; First Line Supervision; Taser Certification; Comprehensive Roadside Criminal Interdiction; Precision and Pursuit Driver Training; Police Law Institute Training for Supervisors; K-9 Instructor; NCAware Certification; CJ Leads Certification and NC Linx Certification

 

What motivated you to run for Vance County Sheriff?

Not only as a law enforcement officer but also as a citizen of Vance County I was tired of seeing the community I was born and raised in continue to spiral downhill due to violence and drug activity. This is one of the reasons I decided to run for sheriff so I can bring the community back together and help pave a safer future for our youth.

 

What distinguishes you from other candidates?

I am young, energetic, honest and approachable. I don’t believe in being a paper-pusher or being absent from my duties. I want to be out in the community with my deputies being proactive and visible with a hands-on approach.

I have dedicated 15 and a half years of my life to serving the citizens of Vance County.  Even as a supervisor, I have served search warrants, executed drug raids, investigated crime scenes, worked murder investigations and performed K-9 tracks/searches. I will be a working Sheriff.

I know what it will take to make the department run more smoothly and efficiently. Being Sheriff of Vance County is more than just a title to me, it’s about stepping up to be a strong leader for our community, it’s about having more youth involvement as they are our future, and it’s about ensuring that the citizens in our county feel safe.

 

What do you believe is the single most important skill to possess in order to be a successful sheriff?

In order to be a successful sheriff, you need to have strong leadership skills.  Strong leadership will instill in our deputies the eagerness to perform their job in a professional manner and to the best of their ability.  It will increase morale in the department which will restore a sense of pride and dignity in our deputies.

A strong leader will also regain trust in the community through effective communication and an open door policy.  We need a strong leader that is engaged in the community and keeps the community informed.

 

If elected, would you keep the Sheriff’s department moving along its current path or change the course?

After being employed with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office for the past 15 years I have noticed some issues within the department’s chain of command.  I feel that I could make improvements by moving positions around to help the department run more smoothly and efficiently.

I would also like to bring in more experienced deputies. I have reached out to several past certified employees of the Sheriff’s Office who have expressed interest in coming back to the department to help me reach my goal of filling vacant positions.

The Sheriff’s Department needs to become more involved in the community, especially with our youth. I would like to build better relationships and trust between law enforcement and our citizens by hosting events that would bring the two together.

 

What do you believe is the biggest concern facing Vance County today and what would you do as Sheriff to address that concern?

I believe the biggest concern facing Vance County today is the opioid epidemic. Other crimes such as theft, burglary, assault, and murder also stem from drug activity. As Sheriff, I would expand our narcotics unit and make sure that the unit is fully staffed with experienced deputies that already have connections with state and federal agencies. A solid connection will allow us to speed up conviction rates of repeat offenders and make sure they are served with harsher sentencing.

I would also bring back the drug interdiction unit in an effort to intercept narcotics being transported through our county via major highways.  I would like to introduce a special enforcement unit to concentrate on high crime areas throughout the county. I would also implement drug awareness and prevention programs in our schools. By taking a proactive approach to our drug problem the crime rate in Vance County will gradually decrease.

 

The photo accompanying this article provided by Billy Gooch.

 

Charles Pulley – Vance Co. Sheriff Candidate Q&A

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Name: Charles Pulley

Candidate For: Vance County Sheriff

Age: 57

Town of Residence: Henderson

Previous position(s) held: Lieutenant – Henderson Police Department (Retired)

Degrees/Certifications Earned: Basic Law Enforcement Certification; Advanced Law Enforcement Certification; Criminal Investigations Training – N.C. Department of Justice; Drug Unit Commander Training – University of North Florida; Major Case Investigation -Federal Bureau of Investigation; Interaction Management Program – N.C. Department of Justice; Community Oriented Policing – Coastal Plains Law Enforcement Training Center; Human Relations – State of N.C. Human Relations Committee; Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Training – United States Attorney’s Office/DEA; Investigations and Management of Hate Crimes – National Criminal Justice Academy; Federal Drug Enforcement Training – Drug Enforcement Administration

 

What motivated you to run for Vance County Sheriff?

I am motivated to run for Sheriff because I care about Vance County. I can see that the violence and drug sales and drug abuse have increased dramatically over the past several years. I believe I have the experience and knowledge to lead the Vance County Sheriff’s Office in the right direction to reduce the drug and criminal activity.

Citizens expect law enforcement to keep their families safe whether at home or anywhere they may go in the county. We must address the violence and drug trafficking in our community. We must target and aggressively prosecute these individuals involved in criminal activity in our county.

 

What distinguishes you from other candidates?

I believe I have the training, knowledge and experience that the other candidates do not possess. I have experience in patrol, criminal investigations and narcotics investigations. During my 30- year tenure with the police department I was the Commander of the Interagency Drug Enforcement Unit for 10 of those 30 years.

I supervised and coordinated hundreds of state and federal investigations. I prepared and submitted all budgets associated with the drug unit. We worked closely with all agencies including the SBI, DEA, ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

 

What do you believe is the single most important skill to possess in order to be a successful sheriff?

I believe the most important skill to possess is the knowledge of each aspect of law enforcement; patrol, criminal investigation, narcotics and administration. A sheriff must have a working knowledge of all aspects of the department to be an effective leader.

 

If elected, would you keep the Sheriff’s department moving along its current path or change the course?

I would change the course of the department to address the current problem of violence and drug trafficking in our county. I have several plans that are included in my platform if elected Sheriff:

  • Citizens Advisory Board to meet periodically with the Sheriff to discuss concerns and information regarding their community.
  • Proactive Criminal Enforcement Team to patrol Interstate 85 and U.S.1 and other areas where drug trafficking is a problem. 80% of money seized is returned to the County and this money could be used to purchase vehicles and equipment needed to fight crime in our community.
  • A full-time Crime Prevention Officer to work closely with residents to create more community watch groups throughout the County.
  • E-Mail Alerts and other forms of electronic communication that could inform the public and media when and where crime occurs and other information that should be immediately released to the public.
  • Create and train a full-time Crime Scene Technician who would respond to homicides and robberies, as well as breaking and entering incidents at businesses and residences.
  • A Sheriff’s Citizens Patrol that could be operated by graduates of an Academy that would offer 40 hours of training in crime prevention and other areas of law enforcement.
  • A chaplain to provide specialized guidance, counseling and assistance to deputies and their families along with a program at the jail for inmates.
  • Restructuring and redirecting the Narcotics Unit to work with both State and Federal law enforcement authorities including DEA, ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
  • Implement a career development program that would give employees an opportunity to not only attend state-mandated training but to continue their training in other fields of law enforcement.
  • Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) – a program taught by deputies in local elementary and middle schools. This program helps mentor and educate students on gang awareness.
  • Security/threat assessment – make sure locations have a plan in place to address emergencies and disaster whether natural or man-made. These locations would include businesses, schools, churches, daycare facilities and nursing homes.
  • Create a link for information on cold cases on the Sheriff Office’s website that would give residents a synopsis of the case and to ask for any information or details the public may have.

 

What do you believe is the biggest concern facing Vance County today and what would you do as Sheriff to address that concern?

I believe the biggest concern facing Vance County today is the heroin epidemic that is causing so many drug overdoses and overdose deaths. I would address this problem through undercover operations, search warrants, highway interdiction/investigation and prosecution through both State and Federal laws.

A narcotics unit must be proactive and identify the individuals involved in narcotics trafficking and aggressively investigate and arrest these individuals.

 

(The photo accompanying this article provided by Charles Pulley.)

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Boards & Commissions Committee to Meet Friday, April 27

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-Submitted by Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson

As of 4/27/18, this meeting has been CANCELLED and will be rescheduled for a later date.

The Boards and Commissions Committee of the Henderson City Council will meet on Friday, April 27, 2018, at 2 p.m. in the large conference room at City Hall, 134 Rose Avenue.  The purpose of the meeting is to consider applications for various citizen committees.  The public is welcome to attend.

Candidates Forum for May 8, 2018 Primary (Audio)

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Candidates Forum for May 8, 2018 Primary

On Sunday, April 22, 2018 in downtown Henderson, The Daily Dispatch, The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and WIZS partnered to present a local candidates forum in advance of the May 8th Democrat Primary in Vance County.

The question and answer portion of the forum was confined to candidates with opposition in the primary.  Not all candidates in the primary chose to appear, but a microphone, name card and seat were available for all candidates.  Other local candidates, even those without opposition, were allowed equal time in the opening statement portion of the forum.  Closing statements however were confined to candidates with opposition.

The full audio of the forum is presented here.

 

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Henderson City Council Committee Meetings 4-24-18

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— submitted by Esther McCrackin, City Clerk

Henderson City Council Committee Meetings

The Henderson City Council’s Human Resources Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, to discuss issues relating to health insurance and other benefits. This meeting will take place at 3:00 p.m. in the Large Conference Room at City Hall, 134 Rose Avenue.

The Henderson City Council’s Intergovernmental Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, to discuss changes relating to the Rec Players. This meeting will take place at 4:00 p.m. in the Large Conference Room at City Hall, 134 Rose Avenue. The public is welcome.

I Voted Sticker

Vance County Early Voting Schedule for the May 2018 Primary

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Vance County will offer early voting opportunities for the May 8, 2018, democratic primary beginning April 19 and ending May 5.

Early voting will be available at the Aycock Recreation Complex, the Henderson Operations Center and at the Vance County Board of Elections office in Henderson.

Registered voters may request an absentee ballot by mail from now until Tuesday, May 1. Please call the Board of Elections office at (252) 492-3730 for more information.

This is a Democrat primary. You must be registered as a Democrat or as unaffiliated in order to vote in this primary election. There will not be a Republican primary. The deadline has passed for registered voters to change their party for this election.

 

Schedule for Early Voting (please note all three sites have the same days and times):

Aycock Recreation Complex – 307 Carey Chapel Road, Henderson

Henderson Operations Center – 900 S. Beckford Drive, Henderson

Vance County Board of Elections – 300 S. Garnett Street, Henderson

Thursday, April 19, 2018                   8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Friday, April 20, 2018                         8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 21, 2018                   CLOSED

Sunday, April 22, 2018                      CLOSED

Monday, April 23, 2018                     8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018                     8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018               8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 26, 2018                   8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Friday, April 27, 2018                         8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 28, 2018                   CLOSED

Sunday, April 29, 2018                      CLOSED

Monday, April 30, 2018                     8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018                        8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Wednesday, May 2, 2018                  8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 3, 2018                      8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Friday, May 4, 2018                            8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 5, 2018                       8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Candidates Forum, April 22, 3 p.m., 122 Young Street

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(Flyer designed and created by The Daily Disptach)

District Attorney Update 04/04/18

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