Murfreesboro Diamond

Citizens of Pike County head to the polls next Tuesday, May 20 May 14, 2008 - No reporter cited

Heather Grabin
Editor

On Tuesday, May 20, citizens of Pike County will go to the polls to vote for Pike County Sheriff and Pike County Circuit Clerk.

The candidates for Circuit Clerk are incumbent Donna White and Theresa Humphry.

White has been the Pike County Circuit Clerk for the past four years and before that she served as deputy clerk.

Humphry has served as deputy clerk for the past four years.

Candidates for Pike County Sheriff are Jerry Lowery, Preston Glenn, Mark Barnes and Thomas Jordan.

The Diamond prepared a list of questions for the candidates. The following is the list of questions and their answers.

Jerry Lowery:

Q.What are the priorities you find essential for the Pike County Sheriff’s Department? 

A. I have three priorities for the Pike County Sheriff’s Department.  We will work with all of the schools in Pike County to keep our children safe.  We will make routine visits to the schools.  We will participate in assemblies and other activities such as career days.  Just seeing the sheriff and deputies at area schools will be a positive influence on the students.

We will work on the drug problem in the county. We may not completely stop the drug problem, but we can and will slow it down.

We will patrol ALL areas of the county.  Deputies, the chief-deputy, and the sheriff will patrol not only the highways, but the county roads as well.  All of Pike County must be covered.

Q. How do you plan to handle the growing methamphetamine and prescription drug problems that are sweeping across our county?

A. We will need to work on the growing methamphetamine and prescription drug problems constantly.  Personnel working for the sheriff’s department will have training on the signs to watch for and training on dealing with the problems.  I have already talked with other drug agencies that are willing to work and help us with this problem.  We will work closely with these other agencies.  If a pharmacy calls us with information or if they need help, we will assist them in anyway. 

We can only change things by working together.  No one can have change by working alone.

Q. Will the sheriff’s department be working with area schools as it has done in the past with drug prevention and awareness programs?

A. Working with the area schools, is one of my priorities.  The Pike County Sheriff’s Department will be working with the area schools in the following ways.  I plan on setting up regular drug awareness and prevention programs through the school counselors.  I have two people who have volunteered to help write grants.  We will work to secure grants for some of these activities.  My K-9 deputy and I will be willing and available to all of our schools.  We will make routine visits.

I have spoken to Randy Reid, the new Glenwood Chief of Police, and he will be happy to also send Glenwood’s K-9 officer to help with programs or anything the schools might need.  If I am elected, I will also be working with Mark Barnes, the Murfreesboro Chief of Police.  We need to all work together to save our children.

Q. What changes do you expect to implement to the sheriff’s department if elected Pike County Sheriff?

A. All deputies will be on rotating shifts so that all of them can be a part of the work we do with the schools.

All employees of the sheriff’s office will show professionalism and courtesy to the people for which we serve.

The people of Pike County will always be able to speak to the sheriff, the chief deputy, or the shift supervisor with their concerns.

I will make other changes as needed.

Q. What credentials separate you from the other candidates that are running for sheriff?

A. I have been in law enforcement for 14-years.

I have job experience as I was appointed sheriff in 1996 to finish out James Nixon’s term when he left office.

I was in charge of 70-security specialist in Iraq.  I had to assure that they had the training and equipment needed for the job they conducted each day.

I was Program Manager in Amman, Jordan, in charge of a large budget, which took care of over 500-security specialist going in and out of Iraq.

I was a supervisor in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit.  I supervised officers who came to help from Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma.

I have been in the trucking business for over 20 years.  I know how to budget money.

Q. Briefly list your qualifications for sheriff.

A.  Graduate of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy in 1994.

Advanced Field Sobriety Certification

Civil Process Certification

Firearms Certification (Qualified as a handgun expert)

Regional Counter-drug Training Academy

Drug Task Force Training

Arkansas Youth Suicide Prevention Conference

Arkansans for Drug Free Youths Conference

OC (pepper) Spray Course Certification

Operator for Breath Testing Certification

Chemical Tests for Alcohol Certification

Radar/Lidar Operator Certification

Severe Storm Training Certification

Security Specialist

International Police officer in Kosovo

Regional Protection Certification. 

RG-32 Scout Driver/ Operator (defensive drivers) Certification

Security Specialist Supervisor in Iraq

Security Specialist Program Manager in Amman, Jordan

Police Officer Advisor in Afghanistan

Mark Barnes:

Q.What are the priorities you find essential for the Pike County Sheriff’s Department?

A. When I was appointed Chief of Police for the City of Murfreesboro, one of the first things I did was update the patch worn by the department. On the patch are the words honor, integrity, and sacrifice. These are traits that I strongly believe in. I expect this from my employees, and I demand it from myself.
I place priority on solving crime. My department will strive to investigate all crimes including burglaries and thefts, to return stolen property to the victims, and to convict the guilty. A victim of a residential burglary once described to me the feeling of being violated after their residence had been burglarized and a stranger had gone through their private, personal possessions. That has stuck with me through my career, and I have always made a point of going the extra mile to solve these types of crime.

All law enforcement agencies have an “open door policy”. It is my opinion that in order to have an effective agency, the sheriff and his deputies must be willing to stay out in the communities meeting with the people living there. Many times information gained from private citizens leads to solved crimes.
I feel that law enforcement is a noble profession, and I take pride that I have chosen this as my career. If elected, I will bring this attitude with me to the Pike
County Sheriff’s Department.

Q. How do you plan to handle the growing methamphetamine and prescription drug problems that are sweeping across our county?

A. Making drug arrests is very important. Following these arrests with convictions is extremely important also. In many cases, the good arrest makes the media headlines but the court ruling is not heard. I believe in making a good arrest and making sure the case is properly prepared to go to trial and win. Some officers follow the practice of making drug arrests and then using the suspect to “roll” on other suspects in order to make more arrests. I feel that if you are using or selling illegal drugs, you should not get a “free pass”, you should be charged and convicted.

I will use every asset at my department’s disposal to continue to fight the war on drugs. This will include extra patrol in areas used to traffic drugs, use of the drug dog, and working hand in hand with our drug task force.

I believe it is important to enforce the laws of our state concerning the possession, sale, or distribution of illegal drugs. Not only is this a criminal problem, but a social one as well. It is important that we work together to solve it because it is not just a “city” problem, or a “county” problem…it is a people problem.

Q. Will the sheriff’s department be working with area schools as it has done in the past with drug prevention and awareness programs?

A. As a Howard County Deputy, one of my responsibilities was to prepare and present drug awareness programs in each school within Howard County. As Chief, I have initiated annual programs at our local high school, such as Red Ribbon Week Drug Awareness and Prevention and Prom Night Decisions Program, which deals with teens abusing alcohol and drugs. This program involved every school in the county and was an incredible success. My intentions are to make this an event that is presented in every school in the county.

My department will provide law enforcement at school functions and sporting events and will have deputies assigned to work traffic in school zones. Random checks of schools with the assistance of the drug dog will be maintained. I will also work with school administrations to prepare an emergency plan of action for scenarios such as school shootings and hostage situations.

Q. What changes do you expect to implement to the sheriff’s department if elected Pike County Sheriff?

A. I expect to make many changes, some of them are:

•Creating an investigator position. This will take some of the patrol duties from an officer, allowing more time to focus on solving crimes.

•More law enforcement presence in school zones, particularly in areas with no city police force.

•Twenty-four hour patrol.

•Lightbars on patrol cars for greater law enforcement visibility.

•Initiate an inmate work program. Inmates should have incentive to stay out of jail rather than lying in a cell all day.

•Creating a neighborhood watch program (information from the public is vital to solving a crime).

•Security check cards will be placed on rural area homes and businesses. Routine patrol and security checks are necessary to deter criminal activity.

•Creating a chaplain position, using local volunteer pastors. The law enforcement career can be very demanding on not only the officer, but his or her family as well. A departmental chaplain is useful for many things including counseling officers, death notifications, and increasing faith within the agency.

Q. What credentials separate you from the other candidates that are running for sheriff?

A. I feel that there is no substitute for education and experience. I have fourteen years of local law enforcement experience, six of which have been spent in a supervisory role as the Murfreesboro Chief of Police. I have trained under some of the most respected law enforcement professionals in Arkansas, such as Nashville Chief Larry Yates and Howard County Sheriff Butch Morris.

I hold three levels of law enforcement certificates and am also a law enforcement instructor. I am trained as a jailer, dispatcher, and as a patrol officer. I also have training as an investigator. I am a graduate of the Police Chiefs Executive Development Course and the Arkansas Leadership Course and have numerous hours of supervisory training.

Since January of 2003, I have acquired numerous grants that have funded most of the equipment in use by the Murfreesboro Police Department all at no cost to tax payers. The following is a sample of some of the equipment:

•Video cameras in all patrol cars

•Radars in all patrol cars

•Police band radios in all patrol cars

•Bullet resistant vest for all officers

•Lightbars, cages, and flashlights for patrol cars

•Pistols and shotguns for all officers

•Portable breath testers and night vision binoculars

•Three computers

Q. Briefly list your qualifications for sheriff.

A. More important than any accomplishment that can simply be listed on paper, successful leadership is often determined by whether or not the individual has the trust, respect, and confidence of the people he leads. As sheriff, I will not try to build these traits just by talking about it; I will build it by achieving results, always with integrity and in a manner that shows regard for the people I serve.

Throughout my 14-year career, I have strived to build a reputation of honesty, fairness and professionalism. I have a strong working relationship with our Circuit and District Judges, prosecutors, and defense lawyers.

I feel that I am the man you can trust in the community, a man you can trust in your personal dealings, and a man you can trust as Pike County Sheriff.
Preston “Pep” Glenn:

Q. What are the priorities you find essential for the Pike County Sheriff’s Department?

A. To protect and serve the people of Pike County, to assist the people of Pike County in any way I can, I will uphold the laws of the State of Arkansas and Pike County. I will see that everyone that has dealings with the Pike County Sheriff’s Office is treated fairly and justly.

Q. How do you plan to handle the growing methamphetamine and prescription drug problems that are sweeping across our county?

A. I will work to make parents and neighborhoods aware of the problem and what to look for by having community awareness classes. I will search for more funding to fight against drugs in our communities and schools. I will provide additional training for all law enforcement officers in Pike County to help them be more effective in the fight against illegal drugs. My department will continue to keep as much pressure on drug dealers as possible to keep them out of our communities.

Q. Will the sheriff’s department be working with area schools as it has done in the past with drug prevention and awareness programs?

A. Yes, the children of Pike County are our future, without them we have no future, every adult has a responsibility to make sure that our children grow up in a safe environment. My department will continue to work closely with the schools and parents to combat drugs and violence in the schools of Pike County.

Q. What changes do you expect to implement to the sheriff’s department if elected Pike County Sheriff?

A. The new jail will provide for us an update in our facilities and much of our equipment. The new jail space will allow us to be more aggressive on old warrants and all crimes in Pike County. I will strive to raise the level of cooperation between all law enforcement agencies in Pike County. I will work diligently to see that the sheriff’s department works hand in hand with all emergency services in Pike County. One of my many goals is to take advantage of as many state and federal grants that the sheriff’s office can qualify for. I believe this is a key to making our county an schools a safer place for everyone.

Q. What credentials separate you from other candidates that are running for Pike County Sheriff?

A. I worked approximately six months as an auxiliary officer for the Murfreesboro Police Department. I then served approximately 18 months as an auxiliary deputy for the Pike County Sheriff’s Department.

I have worked 9 years and 4 months for the Pike County Sheriff’s Office as a full-time deputy. In that time I have has over 300 drug arrests and more property crimes than I could keep up with.

For over 2 ½ years now, I have had the privilege and responsibility of being the chief deputy for the Pike County Sheriff’s Office. This has expanded my job from patrol and investigations into management and leadership responsibilities. It has required me to become responsible for budgeting, personal management, fleet management of the sheriff’s department vehicles and management of the jail facilities on a daily basis. I believe this shows that my background and skills make me uniquely qualified to be your next sheriff.

Over the last ten years I have had over 900 hours of certified training, the following is a list of the certifications I have received.

1. Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Training for Methamphetamine Labs (I am the only officer in Pike County that is Clandestine Meth Lab certified. This allows me to go into a hazardous environment to collect evidence and make the lab safe.

2. Civil Process

3. Basic Patrol Drug Enforcement

4. Methamphetamine on Production and Recognition

5. DUI Drugs

6. Traffic Radar Operator

7. Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy Basic Certifications

8. Qualified in Fire Arms

9. The Adam Walsh Act Sex Offender Coordination Training

10. Criminal Justice Institute Narcotics Officer Certification #1

11. Arkansas Department of Emergency Management Department of Homeland Security Incident Command for Emergency Management

12. WMD Weapons of Mass Destruction Responder Awareness Certification

13. WMD Weapons of Mass Destruction Responder Operations Certifications

14. Criminal Justice Institute Narcotics Officer Certification #2

15. Racial Profiling

16. Arkansas Law Enforcement General Certificate

17. Tazer Certified

18. Storm Spotter Certified

19. BAC Senior Operator Certified

20. Interview-Affidavits Search and Warrants Certified

21. Level 2 Hazardous Material First Responder Awareness

22. Level 2 Hazardous Material Awareness

23. Arkansas Fire Academy at Camden Fire Intro

24. Arkansas Fire Academy at Camden Protective Equipment

25. Arkansas Fire Academy Emergency Medical Services First Responder

26. Arkansas Forestry Commission Wildlife Fire Suppression

27. Criminal Procedure Update Courses

In closing I would like to thank the people of Pike County for the opportunity to serve you for the last ten years. On Tuesday, May 20, 2008 please vote for Preston “Pep” Glenn and allow me the privilege of continuing that service.

Thomas Jordan:

Q.What are the priorities you find essential for the Pike County Sheriff’s Department?

A. The priorities I find essential for the Pike County Sheriff’s Department are:

1) School Safety-Such as extra patrol through our school campuses, more focus on speed violations in our school zones and around our children’s bus stops. Our children are our future their safety should be our top priority.

2) Drug Interdiction-Work with your surrounding agencies and utilize the assets you have to make a more pro-active instead of a re-active stand on drug related offenses.

3) Adequate Training-Continued education is a must for all law enforcement personnel. Law enforcement is an ever changing career and your employees need to have continued education in order to perform their duties more effectively.

Q. How do you plan to handle the growing methamphetamine and prescription drug problems that are sweeping across our county?

A. I plan to handle the drug problem sweeping across our county by building a stronger work relation with the Judicial Task Force as well as the State Police Narcotics Division thus allowing the sheriff’s department as well as local municipalities to share and gather intelligence abut the drug trafficking not only within our county, but also the neighboring surrounding counties. The sheriff’s department cannot single handedly tackle the drug problem the county is facing. It’s going to take a joint coalition effort from all within the county, and the support from the people in our communities. With everyone working together, I feel we can take an aggressive stand against the drug problem.

Q. Will the sheriff’s department be working with area schools as it has done in the past with drug prevention and awareness programs?

A. I believe the sheriff’s department should always be involved with the drug prevention and awareness in our area schools. I feel that drug prevention and awareness should not just be primarily focused on our children. We should get the parents involved as well teaching preventative measures and guidelines as to what to look for , and support groups for our youth and parents.

Q. What changes do you expect to implement to the sheriff’s department if elected Pike County Sheriff?

A. Changes I would like to implement to the sheriff’s department if elected: I will always have an open door policy for the residents of Pike County, with a courteous and professional staff. I would also implement a more efficient work schedule enabling the sheriff’s department to provide a twenty-four-seven coverage for the county. By doing this I will eliminate the unnecessary compensation time and allow equal time off for employees to spend with their families.

This would also enable the sheriff’s department to respond to calls in a more timely manner.

Q. What credentials separate you from the other candidates that are running for sheriff?

A. The credentials that separate me from the other candidates: I have approximately ten years of law enforcement experiences, two of which were served in a supervisory capacity. I have worked many areas of law enforcement from communications and corrections to patrol. Over the years I have received numerous certificates and awards. Through my training and practical experience I feel that I would make an excellent representative for the sheriff’s department as well as the residents of Pike County. I will be dedicated and committed to making Pike County a better place to live.

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