The November race for Charlottesville sheriff had two hallmarks: candidates with names that make for great slogans and candidates with long platforms.
Now, the candidate who won, James E. Brown III (he defeated Paul Best), is faced with the task of turning his platform into reality.
So far, that’s meant a lot of meetings.
The former member of the Albemarle County Police Department has swung by the Charlottesville Sheriff’s Office to say hello to the folks he’ll be leading.
But perhaps the most important preparations he’s making is watching the news coming out of Richmond, where he fears the state government could cut funds yet again.
“I’m pretty sure there’s going to be another cut,” he said. “So right now I’m just waiting to figure out what’s going on with that.”
But he’s not looking forward to dealing with it.
“The problem is that, because of the budget situation we’ve had for a while now, the budget is pretty lean already,” Brown said. “You can’t cut back on the amount of gasoline you use if you have to transport prisoners. The deputies still need uniforms.”
In the meantime, he’s plugging ahead with getting some of his new programs set up so that he can hit the ground running when he takes office in January.
Brown has been meeting with community nonprofits as he gets ready to try to implement a new youth program, for which he’s hoping to secure federal funding.
And he’s begun talking with experts on how to get the office accredited, though some of the models he’s seen won’t work perfectly, because the city maintains a separate police force, reducing the Sheriff’s Office’s responsibility for traditional law enforcement.
Brown said he also plans to get his new deputies training in crisis intervention, a field in which he has experience.
It will help deputies deal with the mentally ill, many of whom pass through the court system the deputies guard, Brown said.
“I want the deputies to be able to work with the folks if there’s a problem, or if something happens,” he said.
One of the initiatives that won’t come up immediately is Brown’s push to make the sheriff’s fleet green.
“Once a vehicle reaches its maximum usage for the department, then we’ll be able to replace that vehicle,” he said.
Right now the fleet is mostly Ford Crown Victorias.
Brown has also been learning how to operate the financial ropes of the office. Its annual budget is about $900,000.
But while most of Brown’s preparations are meetings and training, he said he’s excited to start the job.
“I’m just looking forward to the transition,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with the community in a more positive light than I have been,” the former police officer said.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Results Loading...