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Sheriff candidates differ on staffing, technology and school safety in Stewart County forum
Summary
Incumbent Sheriff Frankie Gray and challenger Joey Batten emphasized officer retention, training and equipment needs; both supported automated license-plate (Flock Safety) cameras and proposed education and enforcement measures to address reported student substance use.
At the sheriff-candidate portion of the Stewart County forum, incumbent Sheriff Frankie Gray and challenger Joey Batten laid out competing approaches to staffing, technology and youth substance use.
Sheriff Frankie Gray said retention and county growth are his department’s largest near-term challenges: "Officer retention ... is hard for us to keep up with what the state pays," Gray said, and he listed technological needs such as data storage and equipment while noting he has kept the department within budget. Gray credited his tenure with increased drug arrests and reduced property crimes in the county, numbers he said come from state data.
Joey Batten said chronic turnover — especially in corrections — is the greatest problem. Batten told voters the county must work with the commission to find funding and reduce benefit costs so officers "can afford to stay." He emphasized specialized training opportunities and encouraging officers to pursue canine and narcotics certifications.
Both candidates voiced support for automated license-plate camera systems (Flock Safety-style networks). Gray said the cameras have helped solve crimes and that the department retains data on a limited schedule ("like 30 days"); Batten said regional partnerships and shared funding could expand camera coverage at high-traffic county locations.
When asked about court-presented claims that a large share of Stewart County High School students use marijuana or alcohol, both candidates emphasized prevention and education. Batten advocated drug-detection dogs, school-based education and juvenile-court coordination; Gray described routine compliance checks at vendors and ongoing school outreach programs.
Why it matters: The sheriff’s office will oversee public-safety staffing and spending if elected. Candidates’ differing priorities on pay, training and technology speak to how the department might allocate budget and pursue grants.
What’s next: Candidates will continue campaigning; the forum reminded voters of early voting (July 17) and election day (Aug. 6).
(Attributions: Candidate quotations and policy positions are taken from the forum transcript and attributed to Frankie Gray (incumbent sheriff) and Joey Batten (candidate).)
