My Chief Deputy and I have been meeting with many of you on the campaign trail and listening to your concerns for Putnam County. As I have set out to become your next Sheriff, I have filtered down the two main characteristics that make a good Sheriff and how he leads his team. They are Trustworthiness and Responsiveness to the needs of We the people of Putnam County.

I hope to have earned your trust while holding the office of President of the Putnam County Fraternal Order of police and properly handling your cash donations that made all of our programs work for our community for 20 years. Tom Sutherlin and I were accountable and good stewards of your donations.

With regards to the responsiveness of your needs, I can tell you that the following are in a priority of application for my team. They have changed over the campaign and that is the greatest benefit of speaking at length with each of you.

#1. To build a responsive Crisis Intervention Team comprised of a mental health provider and trained deputy in the current mental health locations and things to do and say at a scene to best deescalate and identify issues for placement recommendations. Many of the police calls that deputies respond to are rooted in mental health issues including calls of suicidal subject, public disturbances, and overdose use of illicit drugs. This team approach is based on the fact that deputies and mental health professionals are working together before an incident and that there is a scheduled coverage for a quicker response.

This is a 40 hour NO COST training and certification. In the last 2 years twice as many police officers from across America have died from a pistol in their own hand as have died from being shot by another person. An extra benefit to the deputies will be the knowledge of officer personnel issues and how to identify concerns and help their fellow officers. This is a no additional cost initiative.

#2 To institute a School Resource Deputy that works with other SROs in the county to institute a DARE type anti-drug use and anti-vaping program for area schools. This deputy will be dressed in more approachable clothing and on a mentoring and teaching level with the kids. This will set young children up for a future of easy talking with and listening to police officers in the area. The deputy will be used from the current budget and realigning of duties within the department. I will fund the programs for the deputy to teach from local fundraising efforts and the many local and state grants available to law enforcement.

#3 I fondly remember riding with my father for many hours while he patrolled the county as a deputy. From time to time he would turn around on a county road and pull into a person driveway. I thought he must have noticed a crime in progress and things were about to heat up. No, just someone in their barn that he wanted to say hi and see what has been going on. That is what we need more of.

My initiative will be called Community Connections and will be a requirement for day and evening shift deputies to identify organizations, clubs, youth programs, and the like. They will then attend meetings or participate in youth events. This will open up communication and make personal connections with the citizens that the deputies serve. This is a no additional cost initiative.

#4 Body cameras. The deputies do not currently wear body cameras. It is my opinion that we have some of the most trustworthy and responsible law enforcement officers around. The camera requirement is for the citizen concerns and the protection of the deputy. These cameras are used far more often to prove the officer did the correct thing than the opposite. In 2022 I believe it is the expectation of the general public that police are recording interactions with cases.

A recent criminal case prosecution was greatly enhanced by the three bodycams from officers first arriving at the scene. The comments made by the defendant were clearly recorded and used as evidence for the conviction. They are a tool for current law enforcement activities and should be used in the future of police work in Putnam County.

There is a cost to these additions to the department but the benefit far outweighs this cost. There are half and full grants available for the Putnam County Sheriff’s department. I will work diligently to get these implemented at no cost to the local taxpayer.

In conclusion, the above initiatives are in the order of importance since discussing each with you the voter during the campaign. They have changed for me and I appreciate your input on all of these.

I am asking for an opportunity to serve you and implement these initiatives as I have other programs in our community over the past 27 years.

Thank you for taking the time to review these initiatives, Jerrod