During my time in law enforcement, I had the pleasure of doing just about anything an officer can do, from patrol to traffic to evidence processing to community policing to investigating burglary and economic crimes, he added. Were going to get back to enforcing the law the way it is supposed to be done.. . I was the first detective in North Florida to investigate food stamp fraud.. Im a father, Im a husband, and most importantly, Im a Christian, he said. In Macon, Cherokee and Clay Counties the sheriff's races were decided during the Republican primaries with no candidates from the other parties. Im a law enforcement professional seeking to do what needs to be done through community involvement, he said. Theres going to be a learning curve for everybody, he said. This proactive approach, outside of the day-to-day in-school role of an SRO will increase the responsibility of SROs to be entire community representatives. Many people in our county do not have smart phones or internet service and this will ensure they are all able to register complaint. I went around with a captain when we were looking at securing the courthouse with metal detectors and a lot of research went into what we needed and how we could organize and implement the program, he said. At over 500 square miles, the majority of Macon County sits outside of the Franklin town limits. I think we need to get ours back up to what it needs to be. The video was released after a group of North Carolina media organizations including Blue Ridge Public Radio filed a complaint seeking its release. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1972 to 1992, retiring a second time from his civilian career, he had more than 22 years of experience serving in a variety of law enforcement positions. If you can steer them away from that at an early age and follow them along, he said. He said he decided to run because he wants to be part of moving the the office forward. Bob Cook said he isnt running for sheriff as a career move. They wanted a change in leadership. Most of these concerns centered around the drug problem in Macon County. law enforcement today has changed! NC Macon democratic party is to support ours believes that the government is to support the people. He wants to see officers involved in community events and a time for people to sit down with officers and share what their needs are. He also wants to reintroduce a cadet program similar to the one he participated in as a young man when Sheriff Holland was his mentor. The candidates to replace Holland bring a variety of experience. He said he would use the tough but caring philosophy he learned in the military. View campaign finance documents for any committee registered with the State Board by searching key words for the title of the committee or the name of the candidate, or find penalties assessed to state committees at the Campaign Document Search by Entity. He wants to see more cooperation with federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration. County Boards of Elections Information BallotTrax (Absentee Ballot Tracking) Voter Registration Statistics View all tools and forms. I dont want this to be one occurrence I want to be a regular face at these events in these various communities because I believe you, the citizens, know what is best for your neighbors. Check your voter registration status Learn about registering to vote Contact your county board of elections Common Cause NC The candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot. I know that I cant always be by their side, so what better way to protect them than to work for an agency that allows you to face the evil in our communities head-on. From there, he began working his way through the ranks as a corporal, sergeant, first sergeant, narcotics investigator, SWAT commander, K9 Supervisor/ Trainer, and now as Captain over Patrol. Candidates Jones,. We can let them know what we are doing and what we can do., He said while the Sheriffs Office has an app to share information with people, not everyone has may have access to technology or internet service. He said extra patrolling will also be helpful in fighting the drug problem, because the people running and dealing drugs like to hang out in places where they dont see patrols. Leading up to the primary, The Macon County News will publish candidate profiles for local offices. Unless they have to call them, they dont see a deputy out there, he said. In 2007, Nantahala was given four Deputy positions specifically for the Nantahala area. Items below are placed at the cadidates request, in the order received. 94.1 Lumberton 99.9 Southern Pines, Courtesy of North Carolina Board of Elections. 148 likes. Henderson County Sheriff Erik Summey Republican Charles McDonald Republican Michael Brown Republican Jackson County Board of Education District 4 Judy Watson Henry Ali Laird-Large Wanda. But you also have to have something for them to look to, benefits and treating people right, he said. Since April 2021, I have made the proposal to get patrol coverage to not only Nantahala, but to Scaly Mountain, Otto and the Cowee area among others. A dog is the number one tool in the war on drugs, he said. Its usually more so in the local elections. A recount has been called for in the Macon County Sheriffs race. Do we need to add on to our facility? Incarceration isnt going to solve the tragedy impacting our friends and neighbors struggling with drug addictions. NC 28734 Phone: 828-349-2000 . I feel that my experience in that area coupled with my leadership and management experience makes me uniquely and more qualified to address the burgeoning drug problem. Just like criminal enterprise is constantly evolving, so is Law Enforcement and I want to ensure that we evolve quicker and smarter for the betterment of my friends and neighbors.. With much of my career being spent on patrol, I have experienced the shortages but it wasnt until I became Captain that I was able to see the administrative and structural difficulties of ensuring coverage across the county. I have to serve the needs of the public and the commissioners, he said. Cook said his longest gig was working as an undercover narcotics detective, something he did for 14 years. With Tony Brown retiring from the sheriff's office, Root will not be facing two formidable candidates in 2022. The Macon County Sheriff's Office takes a proactive approach to law enforcement--focusing on working WITH the public and preventing crime before it happens. Some of you know me as Deputy Holbrooks and more recently as Lieutenant Holbrooks, others know me as COACH. My three older children are young adults and they have been raised and educated here in Macon County. As a father, my goal has always been to protect them, love them, and defend them to the best of my ability. The K-9 Officers would be stationed in a zone that would enable them to be mobile in the event of a requirement for their services. He was promoted to captain just when the office was restructured and the entire command staff received that rank. Bryson said Macon County is his home, his children and grandchild are growing up here and he is dedicated to providing them a safe community to grow up in. He said all professions have bad apples and some young people are growing up with a negative impression of law enforcement. Waynesville is Haywood Countys only municipal government that elects all of its members, A group of Macon County residents and library patrons attended a Feb. 7 library board, Theres some truth to the old clich that one readily recognizable sound is the ultimate, As Macon County looks ahead to fiscal year 2023-24, the county has big decisions to make. The only elections here in Western North Carolina are runoffs. My home, your home is Macon County, North Carolina! The drug problem in Macon County and surrounding areas is epidemic. Those residents deserve the same response and service from the Macon County Sheriffs Office as someone who lives in the center of town. Wednesday, April 27, 2022. I want to further our agency just as Sheriff Holland has worked to do for many years. I want to make our county safer for our families, he said. Neither Bryson or Holbrooks answered this question, which was their right to do. In local races when a candidate wins by less than a 1 percent margin the second vote getter can request a recount, according to NC election law. Weve got to do what we can and deal with them appropriately when they get here.. Cook also wants to review safety protocols for the jail and the courthouse. He would like to add a body scanner to check for drugs or weapons coming into the jail and repurpose some positions to add another person per shift. He worked for Western Carolina University Police for almost 14 years before moving on to work at the Jackson County Sheriff's Department. I believe in adequate coverage for all citizens. What Otto needs from me as Sheriff may be different from what Highlands needs and I want to hear that from those who work and live in those communities every day. Extreme aggressiveness on the drug problem, thats the number one problem, he said. He also spent approximately 14 years working in Narcotics where I was also on the Violent Crimes Task Force and the DEA Task Force. You need somebody that has experience in this field., He wants to partner with federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. View Candidates by State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho In 2018, he was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant and became the detention center administrator. Many were close races. I will do everything in my power to curb the drug issues Macon County is facing, but the reality is it will never be gone.. I had people tell me they wouldnt vote for anyone from the Macon County Sheriffs Office, he said. Tags News Franklin Macon County BPR News BPR Mayor Bob Scott Sheriff Sheriff Robert Holland Mayor Lilly Knoepp Bryson said his interest in law enforcement flourished after participating in a youth program under former Sheriff Homer Holbrooks. I am the only candidate who has experience in every division under the Sheriffs Office running for this position. We have one of the best group of law enforcement officers across the country who dedicate their lives to protect and serve the citizens of Macon County every day. He said a cadet program held when kids are out of school during the summer will help build relationships with youth. DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - A new candidate is now in the running for Macon County Sheriff. We need to be hard on the dealers and traffickers, he said. Well start with these intermediate community drug dealers and work our way up., He believes for too long the system has been set up to work from the top down with officers on the lookout for the big guys., Weve never got the big guy here. He thinks the solution is starting at the bottom with the local dealers. In 1893 he was elected by the largest vote received by any candidate, as a member of the first board of county commissioners of Chatham under the new law for such boards that went into effect at that time. I want to get into office, make the changes necessary and train the leaders of tomorrow within my agency.. Ive served as team leader on the SWAT team for 15 years, while employed at the Macon County Sheriffs Office. That is why I plan to constantly seek out grants and funding opportunities to make mental health resources and substance abuse treatment more readily available and accessible in Western North Carolina. The honest truth is, no, we arent exactly where we need to be, but I want to continue to build on what so many in this department have worked hard to create. The many be new to Macon County, but they are tried, and true methods used in most areas in the country. I will also not lie to them. He says increasing community patrols will be important in curbing the drug issues as well as other criminal activity. The Southern Scoop News sent the following email to all candidates for Macon County Sheriff and posted the same text on Facebook for full transparency: As all of you know, I have made the decision to not cover the Macon County Sheriffs Election. I am committed to fair and equal treatment of all citizens. Jones: Combating the drug epidemic, community relations/partnerships, and training in specific areas. Search by document type. Moore had served in law enforcement for 31 years. My heart is in the right place. Any race decided less than a percentage point can head to a recount if requested. Perform a free Macon County, NC public arrest records search, including current & recent arrests, arrest inquiries, warrants, reports, logs, and mugshots. The upkeep of the building., I have a deep commitment to our next generation of our youth, Holbrooks said. Jones said that while he understands sheriff is a political position, he is a deputy before hes a politician, and thats the way hed intend to run the office. Brent Holbrooks, Lt. Clay Bryson and Lt. Dereck Edward Jones. He said the need for a new or upgraded facility will be something the new sheriff will have to talk with the Board of County Commissioners about. Sheriff Robbie Holland, who is retiring this year, told BPR that he would be happy if any of the current officers were elected. I will promise to always give my best effort . He is also employed as an adjunct instructor of law enforcement training at Southwestern Community College where he instructs Basic Law Enforcement Training cadets, National Park Service, in-service training, and anything else at the request of the college. He wants to have six deputies working per shift including a K9 unit on a regular patrol shift. Im constantly in schools, thats my heart., I will press for community related policies that will prompt our deputies to work with our stakeholders as role models, so that, together, our investment in the younger generation yields solid and measurable results.. Outside of Old Fort, the Western North Carolina railroad bends around Andrews Geyser. He said the Sheriffs Office must continue to help educate the community about drug and substance abuse and he wants to see more mental health and rehabilitation resources available. CANDIDATE LIST GROUPED BY CONTEST: Candidate Name. It will be so uncomfortable and so unprofitable they will want to go someplace else.. Among the sheriffs retiring in Western North Carolina who will leave big shoes to fill is Macon Countys Robert Holland, who has served in that position for almost two decades. Macon County Sheriff candidates Jon L. Butts, Jim Root, and Tony "Chubby" Brown all lieutenants with the sheriff's office address the crowd during the NAACP Decatur Branch's Candidates . So when I go in, Im going in with a fresh, clear head looking at the problems we have, he said. Lastly, is there anything else you would like voters to know? Recruitment and retention of officers is an issue not just locally, but across the country. Posted at 01:41h . He says that starts with the community drug dealers. While he said he wants to reorganize the department and shrink it down to something more fiscally manageable, he also wants to increase patrols to certain outlying areas, such as Otto and Cowee. However, I have been asked to help share information about the candidates so what I have decided is to send every candidate this same email (everyone is copied) and leave it up to you if you want to respond or not. He served in that capacity until 1897, with credit to himself and honor and profit to the people. Macon County is my home. My wife Ariel and I have been married since 2014 and currently reside in the Cullasaja Community of Macon County. Because they are our most valuable asset, it is imperative that we find ways to incentivize our agency and make the retention and recruitment of employees a priority, otherwise, we will continue to put time and money into training new officers only for them to leave to go to other agencies. One of the first ways I plan to accomplish this is to refocus the agencies SRO [School Resource Officer] program and to improve the program for all these officers to be more than SROs I want them to be active community law enforcement officers that are geared toward proactive policing and reform. Just like every other department and business around the nation, everybody suffers staff shortages, he said. Yes. Both Sarah and I enjoy coaching our little ones in community league sports, we also volunteer with various youth and childrens programs at Cowee Church, where we are both members. Box 629, Waynesville, NC 28786 828.452.4251. The majority of drugs come from Atlanta, and the majority of those drugs are coming from Mexico, he said. As such, I have experience in making hand to hand drug buys for a $20.00 crack or heroin purchase to as much as multiple kilogram amounts of methamphetamine. He was born and raised in Newton, Iowa. Jones began as a junior detention officer but also served as a member of the special response team (SRT), the countys version of a SWAT team, and also worked patrol and investigations for several years. They want to know, If Im going by the rules, everybody has to be going by the rules., He said he will hold people responsible for doing the jobs they were hired to do. While each election they hear promise after promise from those running or currently serving, this is the first time I have had the opportunity to make those promises. I left in 2004 to learn a new trade, but I knew that I would return to the law enforcement; and I did just that in 2008. Related to community partnerships is educating youth not only about the dangers such as drug use, but also showing them opportunities available. He was alderman of the city from 1889 to 1893. Since 2012, hes also trained canines not only for MCSO but also other regional agencies. I felt that the only way to ensure these concerns were addressed properly was to no longer sit on the sidelines. Filing Date. As the third generation of his family to work in law enforcement, Holbrooks has spent his adult career with the Macon County Sheriffs Office, starting in 1999 as a deputy. 4) If you were not running for office, which of the other candidates would you vote for and why? Just like criminal enterprise is constantly evolving, so is law enforcement, and I want to ensure that we evolve quicker and smarter for the betterment of my friends and neighbors.. It hasnt even been a week since Congressman Madison Cawthorn announced he would run in North Carolinas newly drawn 13th district. Bryson said he thinks the county has outgrown the jail and he would work with the County Commissioners to look at the pros and cons of a new facility or housing inmates out of county. He have served as a law enforcement officer since 2005, first with the Highlands Police Department and presently with the Macon County Sheriffs Office, totaling over 17 years. The Office of Macon County Sheriff serves our community with a highly motivated, professional staff of individuals who strive to treat everyone with respect and courtesy. Of those five men, three currently serve under Holland at MCSO, although in different divisions, while the others are newcomers with their own unique backgrounds in law enforcement. We need to offer our community members an alternative to turning to drugs and the power and knowledge to break free from addiction, he said. If they have a question either myself or my staff will answer them. As Sheriff, my passion for direct, hands-on, community-based policies would be a constant throughout the department. 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