Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame was on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss his first six weeks in office.

Brame’s first order of business was assessing the current staffing structure and making a plan to strengthen areas of potential weakness. “I’m learning a lot,” he said. “Right now I’m doing an assessment. We have a good administrative staff and several have been promoted to a higher rank.”

Staying true to his campaign platform, Brame said he is also focusing on tackling the local drug problem and building rapport among the community.

“Right now, I’m working on reorganizing the division to get more deputies out on the street, and making sure we are more proactive in all areas,” Brame said.

Brame is pleased with one recent victory that saw the Narcotics Unit arrest suspects involved in a “drug house” on Yancey Lane in Henderson. That case will be tried in federal court, according to Brame.

The process of helping to bust drug operations is helped along tremendously by information from the community, Brame said. “The rapport building that I talked about during my campaign has really paid off. People are sharing information on potential drug houses and activities.”

While Brame would like to expand the Narcotics Unit, he said the Sheriff’s Office as a whole is understaffed by at least nine people and has been understaffed for quite some time.

“I am addressing this issue with Vance County Commissioners for discussion when they plan the budget. They know we need the additional manpower; we can’t sufficiently provide adequate services to our citizens with the current manpower.”

Brame admitted recruiting officers to the area is harder than ever in a time when interest in a law enforcement career is down country-wide and surrounding counties are offering bigger paychecks.

“We have a retention problem,” Brame said. “Many see us as a training ground and then they go to work for surrounding counties that pay more. First responders and EMS have this same issue.”

“We spend a lot of money on training, they get here, we pay to train them and then they leave after 18 months or so. Then we have to start the whole process all over again.”

Brame admits he doesn’t have a quick-fix for long-standing recruitment issues, “Do I have all of the answers? No, I don’t, but we have to find a way to retain good officers and get them to stay right here in Vance County.”

In addition to focusing on the drug problem and retention issues, Brame said engaging in trust building activities and improving communication with the community is on his daily to-do list.

Up and out the door by 6:30 a.m. most mornings, Brame said he visits local restaurants, businesses and schools to talk with the citizens of Vance County and encourage them to share their concerns.

“We do not have enough eyes and ears [in the Sheriff’s Office] to combat the situation going on with crime and drugs. Get involved and share information. Reclaim your neighborhood and community,” Brame urged.

Brame said his phone number is open to the public and stated it on-air as (919) 691-6748.

“We are a public office and have an open-door policy. If you have an issue with the Sheriff’s Office, don’t just talk about me; come and see me or give me a call so we can address your situation.”

*To hear the interview in its entirety, please click here.