Sheriff tells students his priorities: safety, rebuilding trust and delivering results

The Granville County sheriff told students at a Kids Corner session that his top priorities are community and school safety, rebuilding public trust and making sure his office follows through on promises.

When asked about his top three priorities, the sheriff said safety of the community and schools comes first, followed by restoring trust in law enforcement and ensuring actions match promises: "You keep those promises that you make... promises versus proof," he said. He described community outreach such as food giveaways conducted with partners including Wendy Tatum and civic groups as part of trust-building.

The sheriff described administrative changes undertaken since he took office: staffing pattern adjustments to increase patrol coverage across a three-division model, pay raises, new protective equipment and acquisition of vehicles including a militarized rescue asset (an MRAP) donated by another sheriff, a search-and-recovery vehicle and Granville County's first mobile command trailer. He said those purchases improved operational capacity and informed his confidence heading into the upcoming election.

He also spoke about leadership challenges after taking office, including overcoming skepticism about being an African-American leader in a agency with a $14 million budget and his stated decision not to dismiss staff solely for political reasons. "The toughest thing is getting people to understand, hey, I'm going to do what's right," he said.

The sheriff emphasized visibility and engagement — visiting schools, riding with deputies and holding community events — as a strategy for crime prevention and rebuilding relationships. He encouraged elected officials to sit with students and hear their concerns directly.

No formal budget votes or personnel actions were taken at the session; remarks were presented as outreach and explanation of his record and priorities.