Henry County Sheriff candidates addressed voters and answered questions at the Henry County-Martinsville Republican Committee’s candidate forum on May 30.
The three candidates – Henry County Sheriff’s Maj. Wayne Davis, who is Chief Deputy; Darryl Hatcher, and Del Mills – each gave opening and closing statements and answered six forum topics submitted by the committee.
Candidates responded as called upon by Eric Phillips, chairman of the committee, who also served as the forum’s moderator. Questions ranged from violent crime prevention to executive management experience to the new Adult Detention Center.
Question: What will you do to curb the amount of drug-related crime, including the number of drug user overdoses in Henry County? Do you have any specifics on what you think you would do differently than the current Sheriff’s Office? Are there things or programs that you think you would continue to do like the current Sheriff’s Office does currently?
Davis
Davis said drugs are an issue in every community across the county and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office will continue to combat that issue.
“Since January of 2020, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office has executed numerous search warrants on the homes of drug dealers and arrested those drug dealers and put them in prison for lengthy periods of time,” he said.
Davis said those searches resulted in substantial amounts of methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, and fentanyl being seized and more than $1 million in seized cash assets. In that same time period, the office also arrested more than 500 drug dealers for distribution and possession.
“Over the past few years, the newly implemented minimal mandatory sentencing for methamphetamine has helped with those offenses. But I support minimal mandatory sentencing, I believe that the sheriff needs to be willing to work with our legislators in Richmond to implement the same minimum mandatory sentences that we see for other drug-related and even greater sentences for those who chose to distribute fentanyl in our streets,” he said.
Davis also believes he has a first-hand understanding of the impact that drugs have on families. His sister passed away in 2013 from a drug overdose.
“We will continue to fight hard to take drug dealers off of the street. I believe without drug dealers, we won’t have drug addicts, and that’s the first step,” he said.
Hatcher
Hatcher said Henry County is one of the leading areas for drug overdoses in the entire state.
“One thing that some people may not understand is that in order to successfully combat addiction, you have to first understand what addiction is. Addiction is a medical condition, but it’s a criminal condition,” he said.
To combat drugs, Hatcher said the department should go after everyone, from street dealers to manufacturers to suppliers.
“We’re going to petition the General Assembly and the state representatives for tougher laws to take these predators off the street who take advantage of those who are addicted. But we also have to offer some compassion, we have to enforce the law with empathy,” he said.
Instead of targeting drug distribution based on the amount of drug forfeiture, Hatcher said the office should choose its targets based on the number of dealers it can take off the street.
If elected, “we’re going to go after drug houses and we’re going to go after drug sales. We’re going to take street dealers off the market. By eliminating them from society, those predators, we’re going to make the community safer,” he said.
Hatcher also said he wants to work with the Henry County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to offer drug court for those who are eligible.
Mills
“Drugs in our community is a problem, it’s a real issue we’ve got to be concerned with,” Mills said.
He believes the officer should take every opportunity to go after drug dealers and drug activity.
Mills said community awareness and something as simple as a neighborhood watch association could send information to the sheriff’s office.
“It’s transparent and open, so you know where to allocate your resources. For example, it could be anything from a drug house to a lot of activity in a particular location as far as cars going in or out. This is information that the sheriff’s office needs, that’s information the community needs to be willing to give and feel that they have an ear at the office,” he said.
Question: What do you think the answer is to stop violent gun-related crime in Henry County? Do you have any specifics on what you think you would do differently than the current Sheriff’s Office? Are there things or programs that you think you would continue to do like the current Sheriff’s Office does currently?
Mills
Mills said violent gun crime has plagued every community for years and gets publicized daily.
“There has to be laws, there are laws in place to help curb this to help keep the right people from acquiring firearms. There’s a process you have to go through,” he said.
Mills believes education, awareness, and teaching children early are important steps for gun safety.
“Current laws in place, I’m sure the sheriff’s office has enforced them to the best of their ability. Again, I would just like to encourage awareness and education, I think that’s the first step in curbing gun violence,” he said.
Davis
Each year, Davis said the sheriff’s office brings a high number of gun-related charges throughout the county.
“I agree that we have to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, but many of those laws already exist, but they’re criminals for a reason because they don’t obey the law,” he said and noted drug courts currently exist and neighborhood watch meetings are held in interested communities.
Davis said if elected he would continue to work with legislators to address minimal mandatory sentencing because that is a big piece of the puzzle.
“When we take minimal mandatory sentencing, then we lock away these criminals for lengthy periods of time, I think it sends a message. One, it takes them off the street so they cannot re-offend anymore, and it sends a message to” others, he said.
Davis also believes the office needs to implement the tools recently received from a grant fund to bring new technologies to the county.
Hatcher
As a former game warden, Hatcher said he knows about 98 percent of the people he encountered on a daily basis had firearms.
“Of the 98 percent of the hundreds of thousands out there, they would never think of using a firearm in a violent fashion on a human being. You’re not going to keep guns out of all criminals’ hands by doing background checks,” he said.
Hatcher said the sheriff’s office should do saturated controls in areas of the community where more gun deaths and violence occur.
“We’ll do this by using the sheriff’s office, and we’ll also reach out to the state police and other agencies that have jurisdiction,” he said.
Question: What is your plan for the recruitment and retention of the Sheriff’s Department employees in Henry County? In what ways do you plan to ensure positive morale and teamwork within the department? Do you have any specifics on what you think you would do differently than the current Sheriff’s Office? Are there things or programs that you think you would continue to do like the current Sheriff’s Office does currently?
Hatcher
Hatcher said the department’s employees are by far its greatest resource.
“It’s easier to and it’s better to retain employees than it is to have to recruit and train new hires. You don’t know what you’re getting when you hire somebody,” he said.
He noted that compared to when he joined the sheriff’s office about 40 years ago, there is a fraction of people applying to be a deputy.
“To retain an employee, they have to know they are appreciated, and they have to know they are being compensated fairly, and they have to have confidence in leadership. Those are the things I’m going to bring to the sheriff’s office” if elected, he said.
Hatcher said he plans to give employees the opportunity for career advancement where they can move in their career choice where they wish.
“What I plan to do is offer the employees the opportunity to move up within their ranks to the senior and master levels so that” instead of going into “supervision if they don’t want to, they can continue on their track,” he said.
Hatcher said working to promote the most effective leadership and the people who are the most effective leaders will improve the department’s morale and teamwork.
Mills
When he joined the sheriff’s office in 1994, Mills said he considered it an honor and a privilege.
“Something that as far as retention, morale plays a key part in that. You got to have trust and support. These young officers need to know that they have your support and that they can trust you with their ideas and concerns,” he said.
Mills said it has to be a department where you create an atmosphere through training, education, and trust.
“You have to be an effective leader who listens. They have families,” and “the family must be taken into consideration, and the total welfare of the officer to meet their physical and mental needs,” he said.
To ensure positive morale, Mills believes officers have to feel like they are part of a family.
“It’s something that you got to build trust, and you go to continue through reinforcing their ideals to make them a complete officer; to feel like they have your support,” he said.
Davis
Compared to other localities, Davis said Henry County is doing a good job with retention. He noted that other departments in the Roanoke Valley area and the region are down more than 30 percent, while Henry County is down less than five percent.
“We’re trying to reach out to the youth in our communities to get them involved to get them to understand the positive aspects of law enforcement, and how much impact that can make on a community and the benefits of making this a career long-term,” he said.
Davis said employee morale is a daily issue, especially when those being hired know it is not a career for them.
“So, once we recruit the right people and have them in the right place then they can feel and improve each other’s morale,” he said.
Question: What will you do to help pay back the cost of the new jail? What do you think can be done to stop drugs from entering the jail and overdoses from happening inside the jail? any specifics on what you think you would do differently than the current Sheriff’s Office? Are there things or programs that you think you would continue to do like the current Sheriff’s Office does currently?
Davis
Davis said some people have alleged there are serious issues with the center, when in fact, that is not true.
“Many of the people who would make those allegations have never stepped foot inside the facility. Those who would make those allegations have never managed a facility of that size, so they have no idea,” he said.
Regarding the fiscal aspects of the center, Davis said it was merely speculation or an estimate based on the jail need study conducted by Mosely Architects.
The daily population is down in the Henry County Adult Detention Center, Davis said, “It’s down in every local jail across this Commonwealth.”
Davis said the sheriff’s department is housing inmates for the City of Martinsville and has contracted to house federal inmates. “And if they send those inmates, that contract alone will generate half a million dollars in revenue.”
Davis said every correctional facility across the nation has an issue with narcotics entering its walls.
“We have the most state-of-the-art technology at the Adult Detention Center. We have body scanners that scan 3D, yet however, we can’t detect the small organic particles in those things. So, again these are criminals, and they can conspire ways to sneak narcotics into our jails,” he said.
Hatcher
Instead of relying on technology, Hatcher said the center should look at what other agencies are doing to keep narcotics out of their centers and take practical approaches.
“Look at the state correctional facilities. If you work in a DOC (Department of Corrections) facility you’re searched” numerous times. “It doesn’t make a difference if you’re wearing a badge or if you’re an inmate or if you’re a contractor. You have to expand your search,” he said, adding the center should look at old-school approaches like using canine drug-sniffing dogs.
To generate revenue, Hatcher said he agrees with what the department is doing in bringing in federal inmates.
“The other thing that I would do is look at carryover funds from the budget. At the end of the year which we’re approaching, you always have money that’s left over. Any projects that you have that you weren’t able to complete, I would trust the Board of Supervisors not to use that money to offset the budget,” he said.
Mills
Mills said the center is a $72 million state-of-the-art facility designed for the education and rehabilitation of inmates.
“As far as training inside the jail, to deter drugs and contraband coming into the jail, that comes from direct supervision. That comes from proper leadership. Veteran officers who are willing to spend time with these young officers,” he said.
Mills said the jail is a training ground, and is the first experience for many officers. Regarding revenue, Mills said at some point he liked the idea of federal inmates. However, with the turnover rate he believes the center’s officers need to be trained for that type of inmate.
“You can look at local jurisdictions that may need bed space and housing. Pittsylvania County, Franklin County, the City of Martinsville, those would all be options,” he said.
Question: In light of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution, if there were to be a law passed at either the state or the federal level to confiscate guns of any kind that are currently legal, would you enforce it? What will be your office’s policy on how to deal with illegal aliens that have been arrested, and are you aware of how those situations are handled currently?
Hatcher
As a pro-second amendment candidate in a pro-gun community, Hatcher said part of his job as sheriff is to make sure that he reflects the values of the area he serves.
“If there’s a state law passed that says we have to confiscate firearms, it would have to supersede the Constitution to make it a law. So, I would not enforce that law,” he said.
Hatcher said illegal aliens arrested in the community would be handled the same as they currently are.
“They would be incarcerated in jail. We would notify immigration that they are in jail, and we would wait for their response,” he said.
Mills
Mills said as a gun owner he is pro-second amendment.
“Unless there was an amendment to the Constitution, I don’t see any reason why those weapons should be confiscated,” he said.
Mills said if illegal aliens committed a crime in this jurisdiction, they are responsible for their actions.
“Immigration would be notified, and we would wait on the proper response from immigration but their debt for that crime to this jurisdiction would have to be paid,” he said.
Davis
As another pro-gun candidate, Davis said no Henry County deputy will participate in any level of gun confiscation.
Regarding illegal aliens, Davis said the sheriff’s department would arrest them as it would any other citizen.
“Should the federal government choose to deport them or prosecute them otherwise, then we would support that,” he said.
Question: The Sheriff is the CEO of the Sheriff’s Department that oversees a large multi-million dollar budget and supervises hundreds of employees. What in your past experiences qualifies you to oversee a budget that large and to lead that many employees?
Mills
Mills said while he does not have experience with a budget of that size, but views it as the same as a household budget or the budget for the non-profit organization budget he works with.
“The same principles apply. You need to be stewards of your funding. You need to spend your funding wisely,” he said.
Regarding the over 200 employees of the sheriff’s office, Mills said he’s coordinated volunteer services and activities for 40-60 volunteers with the non-profit.
“The sheriff is not alone in his duties. He must ensure he has good people around him to make sure things run efficiently,” he said.
Davis
Davis said he’s spent his entire career in the sheriff’s office, so all of his experience stems from there.
“Fortunately, I’ve been part of the sheriff’s administration staff for seven years. During those seven years, I’ve been able to see the budgeting process, participating in the budgeting process, and have a general understanding of that budget process,” he said.
Before the former Chief Deputy Steve Eanes left, Davis said Eanes took the time to go through the budgeting cycle and explain the ins and outs to him.
“So, we would have a general understanding of the $21 million budget the Henry County Sheriff’s Office handles annually,” he said.
Davis said he currently supervises the over 200 employees of the sheriff’s office.
Hatcher
Hatcher said he’s one of the few candidates that actually served as the CEO of a county department.
“I managed the county department and I had to prepare budgets to go through the budgeting process. A $21 million budget, no I have not, but we’re still throwing darts at that number and the budget has increased,” he said.
Hatcher said one has to remember that as the department’s CEO, he would be in charge of the department and preparing an accurate budget.
“But then I have to go to the Board of Supervisors. I have to sell my ideas to the Board of Supervisors and have to get their permission for the funding that it takes that I requested. So, in addition to being CEO I also have to be a salesman,” he said.
