Democrats

Eddie R. Martin

ADDRESS: 512 Marlboro St., Hamlet

LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE: Charlotte Police Department, Special Agent Railroad Police, Chief of Police, City of Rockingham, Richmond County Magistrate, 41 years. Experience in Law Enforcement (1968-2009)

The three greatest crime-related problems facing Richmond County are the following: (1) drugs, which includes street drugs such as cocaine, abuse of prescription medications and some over-the-counter drugs, (2) property crime which includes burglaries, house break-ins and other types of thefts and last but not least (3) violent crime which includes murders, personal assaults and all forms of domestic violence against women and child abuse.

In order to successfully combat drugs, I would utilize a task force approach incorporating all of Richmond Counties’ law enforcement agencies. I have always had a close relationship with the Hamlet and Rockingham Police departments, and we will cooperate fully to effectively reduce drug-related activity. Additionally, I want to assist our public schools in every way possible with drug prevention activities and programs designed to focus our your people away from drugs and gang-related activity toward positive educational activities that allow our young people to excel in a safe learning environment.

I plan to see that all deputies have the proper training necessary to investigate all serious criminal activity within Richmond County. My deputies will be held accountable to investigate thoroughly all crimes and diligently pursue any potential leads. Victims will receive timely follow-up reports and they will be kept informed as their case progresses through the criminal justice system.

With my 41 years experience and training, and having the support of all the local law enforcement agencies, and the trust and cooperation of the citizens of Richmond County, the Sheriff’s Department under my guidance will work to ensure that the quality of services provided by my office equal those of any Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina. In my administration, citizens will be treated with the utmost concern and respect and will be considered as partners in our efforts against crime.

Wendell Sessoms

ADDRESS: 159 Lakeshore Dr. Rockingham

LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE: RCSO for 23 years. Rank Captain/Detective. DARE Officer.

EDUCATION: BS in Criminal Justice, Mount Olive College, Master Public Administration from UNC-Pembroke.

MILITARY EXPERIENCE: 82nd Airborne Paratrooper

FAMILY: Wife, April; daughter, Katie; son, Chaz; daughter-in-law, Melanie; grandson, Cooper.

The “greatest enforcement issue” in Richmond County has to be providing efficient and professional law enforcement services to every community.

The law enforcement issues in Richmond County differ from one community to another and each community may have a different issue at the top of their priorities. Law enforcement must communicate with the residents, community organizations and local governments to identify their concerns and work together to develop solutions.

As Sheriff, I will communicate regularly with other law enforcement agencies, local governments and officials and community organizations, as well as neighborhood committees and churches, in order to build a network to gather and share information, ideas and solutions. To help solve the many different issues that will be identified and prioritized within the communities, I will train and educate the deputies with advanced and up-to-date law enforcement skills and other courses of study that enhance effective communication, critical thinking and problem solving.

Every community deserves and expects professional law enforcement services. The land and the people of Richmond County differ from one community to the other. So are the law enforcement issues. However, working together we can address the issues and solutions for the whole county.

Bo Frye

ADDRESS: 305 Covington St., Rockingham

LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE: 41 years experience in law enforcement-Comprehensive training- Charlotte Police Academy, FBI, DEA, ATF, US Secret Service, Criminal IRS

Drug usage is the greatest enforcement issue in Richmond County. I believe the highest incidences of crime are burglary, larceny, robbery and rape. Most of these crimes are drug related. I will concentrate on eliminating illegal drug dealers, and go after anyone who knowingly or unwisely dispenses prescription medication that can be used illegally.

Burglaries in the county have averaged between 458 in 1999 to 501 in 2009. Larcenies have averaged around 600 since 1999. These figures do not include burglaries and larcenies that have occurred during that same time period in the Hamlet and Rockingham City limits. All crimes are reported to the Uniform Crime Reporting Program according to jurisdictional requirements. It is my experience that burglaries and larcenies, which impact the largest number of citizens in our county, are drug related. Residential dwellings are burglarized for items that can be traded for drugs or that can be sold for money to buy drugs. Larcenies are committed for the same reasons. To eliminate burglaries and larcenies, arrests of persons committing the crimes must be made.

In order to make arrests, a comprehensive analysis of geographical patterns of occurrence such as those related to ethnicity, socio-economic status, and related to day, time and dates would be considered. I would utilize graphs, computer print outs or pin maps to get a visual of where burglaries are occurring. A plan of attack to suppress these crimes would include information from reports on possible suspects, getting as much crime scene evidence as possible, which includes footprints, tool marks and many others. Records of previous perpetrators in the area or recently released from prison for related crimes would be analyzed. I would use directed patrol or saturation patrol with marked, unmarked or undercover vehicles and possibly officers on foot.

License checks/seatbelt checks, which are constantly moved, give the impression law enforcement is everywhere. Arresting those receiving stolen goods, along with proactive measures like reviving community watch programs to utilize all of those eyes to help us is also necessary. Utilizing community informants is a strategy that is also effective.

Increases in robbery, rape, gang activity and gambling must also be addressed as major enforcement issues in Richmond County. Crime prevention training for citizens will be one of my priorities as will the cooperation and communication of all law enforcement agencies in the county.

James E. Clemmons Jr.

ADDRESS: 105 N. Long Dr.

LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE: Richmond County Sheriff’s Office since October 16, 1989. He presently holds the rank of Major. Major duties include the daily operation of the Civil Division, Patrol, Jail, and Courts. Past Commander of the SRT-Team (Special Response Team) established to handle high-risk situations.

EDUCATION: Alumni of Livingstone College, where he received his undergraduate degree from Mount Olive College in BS Criminal Justice

Inducted into Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society “Delta Kappa” Chapter in July 2001.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT: Member of Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Zion Church in Rockingham;

Member of Western Star #9 Masonic Lodge in Salisbury; financial member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; member of the Richmond County Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee; member of Greek Inc. (established to assist Deserving High School Seniors with Scholarships who attend historically black colleges/universities; Richmond County Law Enforcement Co-Chairman for NC Special Olympics; Vice Chairman of the Richmond County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council; member of the Pee Dee Youth Council; member of Richmond County Criminal Justice Partnership Program; founding member of Rockingham Chapter of “HIP” (Helping to Improve Potential), established to mentor at-risk young African American males.

I believe one of the greatest enforcement issues faced by law-enforcement professionals is that of trust. As Sheriff, I would work with our communities to restore that trust. This can be accomplished by going into the schools, participating in community meetings and visiting our churches.

Secondly, our communities feel that “Drugs,“ or their sale and use is a problem. Traditionally, crack and powder cocaine were the drugs of choice, and were sold on street corners. Now, marijuana has resurfaced, along with prescription drugs, as the drugs of choice among our youth. As Sheriff, I would aggressively work with any agency; local, state or federal; to fight drugs and ensure safe communities for Richmond County.

I believe uniting the community stake holders will help with the crime issues that we face today. Effective community involvement will have a positive impact on reducing neighborhood crime, helping to reduce fear of crime and enhancing the quality of life in the community. It accomplishes these things by combining the efforts and resources of the local agencies, state, federal and community members.

I believe in Professionalism, Education, Training, Technology and Community Commitment as my platform. As Sheriff of Richmond County, these are the attributes that I will continue in the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

Republicans

Georgia Little Cagle

ADDRESS: 114 Little Bo Lane, Rockingham

EDUCATION: I graduated from Richmond Senior High School.

FAMILY: I live with my husband Deputy Sgt. Jeffery Cagle, his K-9 Falco, and my father George B. Little. I have 2 daughters, the oldest being Jennifer Drumwright, a nurse at Firsthealth Richmond, her husband Deputy Sgt. Michael Drumwright and, the youngest, Ashley Jenkins, a teacher at Rohanen Middle School, her husband Justin Jenkins, a Federal Corrections officer in Bennettsville S.C. I also have a stepson, Keith Cagle, and his fiancée Rebecca Williams.

I feel one of the greatest enforcement issues that affects our community is our tremendous call volume. You can listen to any public scanner and realize the requests for assistance that goes out to patrol officers 24 hours a day. Not every call is an emergency or arrestable offense.

I feel that when a resident calls the Sheriff’s Office, they are reaching out for help with the everyday problems that affect our community. The key to reducing the number of calls lies in the hands of the Sheriff, who has, at his or her disposal, a Sheriff’s Association Resource Manual and an annually revised copy of the North Carolina General Statutes Guidelines. From those two books I plan to create and implement a Standard Operating Procedure Manual that every employee of the Sheriff’s Office will abide by. Although every call that comes into the Sheriff’s Office must be treated on an individual basis, the Standard Operating Procedure Manual will give a guideline, full of resources and information, for all calls to be handled in a professional and appropriate manner so that the person in need is given the value of service that they deserve. Continuing education is also a necessary resource that will continue to be major part of the Sheriff’s Office should I be elected.

Educating and placing the correct information in the hands of those who are charged with the duty to protect and serve our citizens and the communities they live in, will insure that appropriate help and assistance is given to the citizens who need it. By ensuring the problems facing our neighbors are responded to and handled appropriately, we will make a safer and more efficient community for everyone.

Carl “Doug” Brown

ADDRESS: 122 Fairway Drive, Rockingham.

FAMILY: Wife, Rachel; two daughters, Erica and Brittany; grandson, Housten.

MILITARY SERVICE: I served my Country in the USMC as a military policeman, where I received training from the DEA in Narcotics Identification and worked as an undercover policeman CID. I was also a Proficiency Marksmanship Instructor at Camp Lejeune.

EDUCATION: I received my degree in Criminal Justice from RCC, and graduated with Honors from Management Success School, Los Angeles, CA. I have the NC Criminal Justice Certification 2007, along with NC Department of Corrections training.

In my opinion, without a doubt, the greatest issue in Richmond County is “drugs.” However, the drug problem, does lend itself to other crimes, like burglary, larceny and even murder. I believe that if we get to the root of the problem, the dealers, then we can curtail the other crimes too. I intend to address this with a staff that knows and understands that this is our number one objective.

I plan to have an “open door” policy. It’s important that “everyone” be heard! I will spend the majority of my time in the field with the officers and investigators making sure that we put the right people behind bars. For so long, the “big ones” have gotten away ... it’s time for that to change! This can be accomplished within the parameters of the RCSD’s budget, without forsaking the safety of the courthouse or neglecting the warrants that need to be served. The people of Richmond County make their budgets stretch a long, long way, and I think this is exactly what they should require of the RCSO. They want the money spent wisely and for the benefit of the public. They want to feel safer in their homes and neighborhoods ... they want to see a patrol car every once in awhile. The rural areas need protection too!

My military service and education, along with the last 25 years of management experience and owning my own business, make me qualified for the office of Sheriff. I know how to hire good people, regardless of religion, skin color or political affiliation. They need only be honest and hard working! I know how to get results from a budget that needs to be twice its size. These are the real life experiences that make a good leader.

In life, timing is very important. I believe it’s the right time for me and the right time for the county. Together we can make a real change.