My Platform

Changing How We Combat the Drug Problem

In Bedford County, as in many places, drug addiction fuels the majority of crime. It impacts not only the individuals struggling with addiction and their victims but also their families—often creating generational cycles of trauma and substance abuse.

The drug trade functions like any business: if there’s demand, there will be supply. Historically, law enforcement efforts have focused on disrupting supply, while efforts to reduce demand have largely fallen on the private sector, which lacks adequate resources. I believe the Sheriff’s Office must be engaged on both fronts.

With a team of dedicated employees, each bringing unique skills, we developed a three-pronged strategy to address the problem at its core:

A. Prevention in Schools
We’ve implemented the LEAD program in schools to teach kids about the dangers of drugs and violence—reviving an approach that was once central to School Resource Officer programs. As school security concerns shifted focus, programs like DARE faded, leaving prevention largely to parents—many of whom may not be equipped for this task. Our goal is to reach children early and stop the cycle before it starts.

B. Aggressive Enforcement
The addition of K9 units has strengthened our ability to identify and apprehend those involved in the drug trade, targeting both supply and demand. My vision is to expand this with a specialized unit focused on habitual offenders and criminal networks that create the most harm in our community.

C. Rehabilitation in Incarceration
While incarceration protects the public, punishes offenders, and serves justice, rehabilitation has been neglected for decades. Over 90% of inmates in Tennessee are released within three years—often worse off than when they entered. My philosophy: If you do the crime, you do the time—but we must use that time wisely.
Our jail programs address the root causes of addiction, making rehabilitation more effective and giving inmates the tools to stay sober and productive upon release. This benefits everyone—the victims of crime, the families involved, and the individuals themselves.

Our approach attacks addiction from all sides:

• Prevention through education in schools

• Enforcement to remove harmful influences from our streets

• Rehabilitation to break the cycle of re-offense