Tag Archive for: #charlespulley

Q&A With New Vance Co. Sheriff Curtis Brame, Candidates Simmons & Allen

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With approximately 53 percent of the votes cast in a higher than usual voter turnout, Curtis Brame was elected the next sheriff of Vance County Tuesday evening.

Brame, a Democratic candidate who ran against Melissa Elliott and Billy Gooch in the May primary, faced Republican Charles Pulley and unaffiliated candidate Allen Simmons in the general election. Final poll results indicated Brame received 7,517 votes, Pulley received 3,810 votes and Allen Simmons received 2,905 votes.

Each candidate was interviewed live on WIZS following the announcement that Brame won the election. Excerpts from those interviews are transcribed below:

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Interview with CURTIS BRAME – 

How are you feeling right now?

CB: “I’m great and I’m so excited! I feel good! What a night!”

“I’m with my family at my celebration gathering at Tiffany’s on Garnett St. and will report to the [Institute of Government] Chapel Hill this Sunday.”

What are you going to do first once you’re sworn in?

CB: “I’ll be a new administrator, so my focus will be on both the Sheriff’s Department and the jail.”

What is the first thing you said to your family tonight?

CB: “Yes! To God be the glory, yes!”

Did it feel like a long campaign or did it move along swiftly?

CB: “Being a Democratic candidate, it was a long campaign. I started this process back in October 2017 in preparation for the primary in May. After the primary, I took a couple of weeks off and then was right back preparing for the general election. It was a busy and continuous campaign.”

What made you decide to run for Sheriff?

CB: “Throughout my career, I came to the decision that I’d one day like to be sheriff of Vance County. I always said I would never run for sheriff as long as I was working, and if I ran it would be from a retired position.”

“In October of 2017, Sheriff Peter White told me that he was ‘going home’ and that he and his wife would support me if I ran for sheriff. In giving it to God and talking with my wife and family, that’s when I made the decision to run.”

What is your message for people who voted for the other candidates?

CB: “Whatever differences we have as candidates, we need to put those aside and move forward together as a team. Whether you voted for me or not, I will serve each and every citizen of Vance County equally.”

Sheriff White was the first African-American elected sheriff of Vance County. You are now the second. Does that distinction matter to you?

CB: “Yes, it matters to me. I always took a lot of pride in being a deputy sheriff. The history of the department was previously Caucasian and male. I’m the second African-American elected sheriff and I do take pride in that.”

Are you concerned about those who criticize you for running from a retired position?

CB: “Throughout the history of the department, the only person who was allowed to stay in their position [if they ran] was the incumbent. To run, I either had to resign or be fired. So, I retired with the intentions of running.”

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Interview with ALLEN SIMMONS

What is up next for Allen Simmons?

AS: “Right now, I want to take some time off, spend time with my family and see what direction God is having me go in. I don’t want to make any rushed decisions on which direction I’m going to take right now.”

Is there a possibility of you working for the Vance County Sheriff’s Department or Henderson Police Department?

AS: “Whatever I can do for Vance County. This is my home and I want what’s best for my home. I want to see my home move in a direction that’s positive for this community.”

What did you enjoy most about the campaign?

AS: “The most amazing thing I received out of this is the ability to grow even more. It has taught me to persevere through the obstacles life throws at you. Having my family, wife and kids with me gave me strength.”

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Interview with CHARLES PULLEY

What is up next for Charles Pulley?

CP: “I first want to congratulate Curtis [Brame] for winning the election. It was a clean campaign. We need to support Curtis 100% in this county; there are a lot of things that need to be done.”

“I also appreciate the people who came out and voted for me.”

Will we see Charles Pulley again in future political races?

CP: “You never know what the future holds – I’ll just leave it at that.”

Candidates for Vance Co. Sheriff Discuss Their Plans & Qualifications

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The three candidates for Vance County Sheriff – Charles Pulley, Allen Simmons and Curtis Brame – were interviewed last week by WIZS’ John C. Rose. The prerecorded interviews were played on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk in a question and answer format. The order of the candidates was determined by random selection.

Each candidate was given ten minutes to answer both base questions and to participate in an open discussion. The highlights of their responses are included below. To listen to the interviews in their entirety, please click here.

Question: What has been the focus of your campaign?

 Charles Pulley –

I’ve been trying to talk to everybody that I can in Vance County by going door-to-door, running ads in the newspaper and talking on the radio. I’m trying to get the word out that we need change in Vance County.

We need to get the drug problem under control. It’s impossible to absolutely eliminate drugs in Vance County, but we can get a hold on these drugs. Heroin has a stronghold on Vance County right now. We need to address high-level drug dealers through federal investigations, state investigations, undercover operations and search warrants. We need to hit them at every level.

Allen Simmons  –

My focus is to reach the citizens of Vance County and to introduce myself so the people can truly know who Allen Simmons is, what Allen Simmons is about and what his thoughts and plans are as sheriff.

Citizens are seeking someone with answers to solve the drug problem, the violent crime problem and to address communication issues with the community.

Curtis Brame –

 Everyone knows we have a problem with drugs throughout our community – in the city limits and in the county. My focus is on doing some rapport-building among the citizens of Vance County, then we can close that gap in communication and more crimes would be reported to the Vance County Sherriff’s Office.

The sheriff and police departments do not have enough eyes and ears to combat the issues that are going on in Vance County. We need to get our community involved, get our churches involved.

 

Question: What can the sheriff do about the issues facing Vance County?

 Charles Pulley –

 The sheriff will coordinate the efforts of his duty unit, criminal investigation unit or patrol. A sheriff has to have experience in each one of these areas, and I do. I worked 30 years at the Henderson Police Department on the patrol, criminal investigation and narcotics division. I worked 10 years with the Interagency Drug Enforcement Unit.

Drug dealers know no boundaries between city and county. The ones in the county go to the city and the ones in the city go to the county. We have to collaborate to get ahold of these problems.

 In addition to drugs, we also have a violence problem in Vance County – shootings, homicides and breaking and entering. We need to get a task force back together with the City, County and the Interagency Drug Enforcement Unit.

Allen Simmons –

I would start by prioritizing the list of things that are most important to the things that are least important. I plan to break the county down into four sectors and begin to hit each sector at a time, with advance notice, so people can come out and speak with the sheriff. Then, I can begin to prioritize the needs that citizens in this county feel need to be dealt with.

As I travel the city and the county and speak to people, the most important issue is the drug problem. My goal is to begin to attack the drug problem by way of connecting with different agencies throughout our county and surrounding counties and to bring in assistance from the federal government to combat these problems. We need to begin to collaborate with other agencies because this drug problem is not centralized to just Vance County. A lot of the drugs in our county are filtered out to other counties.

My goal is to be able to work with the Henderson Police Department and Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow and to work with the federal government and state agencies to attack our problems.

I wouldn’t want to reveal a lot of information about how we are going to go about attacking it because I know there are people in the criminal element listening and I wouldn’t want to provide them with too much information.

Curtis Brame –

The first plan of action is being very proactive, getting more deputies out in our communities so they can address situations.

There is a higher concentration of drugs being sold in the city-limits than in the county. I will work with the Henderson Police Department and Chief Marcus Barrow in a team effort. We have to get the SBI involved and brainstorm this thing together because it’s bigger than being the sheriff of Vance County.

 

Question: What makes you uniquely qualified for the position?

 Charles Pulley –

I was employed with the Henderson Police Department for 30 years and was a commander with the Interagency Drug Enforcement Unit for 10 years. We worked hundreds of cases, including federal cases, and we were able to remove individuals from Vance County who were involved in high-level drug trafficking.

I have respect for both of the other candidates; they are fine guys. However, I have more experience, especially more experience in commanding a unit.

Allen Simmons –

I bring in experience, knowledge and resources that we need here in Vance County. I have had the opportunity to work here in Vance County for 20 years as a police officer. For 16 of those years, I worked with the United States Government on federal cases in both Vance County and throughout the state of North Carolina.

I have a strong working relationship with the US Attorney’s Office here in the eastern district of NC. I’m a graduate of Saint Augustine’s College with a degree in organization management, so my background is in managing organizations.

I want to see a sense of unity and concern in our community. I bring that sense of concern from my heart because I do deeply care about our community.

Curtis Brame –

 I have 33 years of experience, continuing education credits and a rapport with the citizens of Vance County. I spent 31 and a half of those years with the Vance County Sheriff’s Department. I retired in 2016 with the intentions of running for sheriff. Since the day I retired, I’ve never stopped working and caring for this county.

I’m the only candidate that is still a sworn law enforcement officer. I’m the only candidate who has ever been a deputy sheriff. I’ve been in training for a long period of time. I’ve worked with three different administrators and learned a lot.

It’s more than just working drugs. Vance County Sheriff’s Department does the civil process and we have the jail. I know the ends and outs of all the procedures that go on with a sheriff’s department. Both [Charles] Pulley and [Allen] Simmons have always worked at the police department. They don’t know the duties of a sheriff – I do.

 

Open Discussion:

Charles Pulley –

People in Vance County want to see change in their community. We need to get the crime problem under control. If we can remove drugs from our county, that will remove some of the crime from our county.

We are known right now as the heroin capital of this part of the state. People are coming from Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Virginia to purchase heroin because it is plentiful and cheap.

I ask everybody to evaluate each candidate and get out and vote. Early voting begins October 17.

Allen Simmons –

We are sitting on a prime spot in Vance County with I-85, US-1 and a lake. This is not just a crime issue for me, it’s more than that. It’s a complete change and a complete growth that we need here.

I want your families to be safe here in this community. Where there is unity, there is strength. That’s what we need here in our community and I will give 100% of me to make sure that sense of unity is brought back.

Curtis Brame –

I focus my energy on being the best. I stood tall and was always proud of being a deputy sheriff. My uniform was always clean. My patrol car was always clean. I’m a go-getter and a hard worker.

I care about this county. I retired in 2016 and chose to come back because I want to make a difference. I, alone, can’t make a change. Only God above can make changes. We’ve got a lot to do in this county. I feel I’m the person to motivate the deputies and my team to get the job done.

Vance County Sheriff's Office

Public Forum for Vance Co. Sheriff Candidates Rescheduled for Oct. 14

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The public forum for Vance County Sheriff candidates Curtis Brame, Charles Pulley and Allen Simmons originally scheduled for Sunday, September 16, 2018, has been rescheduled for Sunday, October 14 from 3 – 5 p.m. in the Vance County Commissioners’ Room of the old courthouse, 122 Young St., Henderson.

Hosted by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, The Daily Dispatch and WIZS Radio, the forum will allow each candidate the opportunity to make an opening statement followed by a question and answer session from representatives of the Chamber, the Dispatch and WIZS. Each candidate will also be given the opportunity to make a two-minute closing statement.

The public will be given an opportunity to suggest the questions that will be asked at the forum. Those questions should be submitted to john@hendersonvance.org, by noon on Friday, October 12. Prior to the forum, a panel represented by the media and the Chamber’s governmental affairs committee will select the order of questions.

The public will also be given the chance to submit questions to the panel on the day of the forum. For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at (252) 438-8414 or sandra@hendersonvance.org.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

*WIZS Radio will be recording the forum from 3 – 5 p.m. and airing it in its entirety from 5 – 7 p.m. the same day, Sunday, October 14, following the broadcast of the Carolina Panthers game. It will also be live streamed on wizs.com and posted to wizs.com as a podcast for repeat listening.

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.)