Moments That Remind Me Why I Serve

Today was a great day!

I started the day with some second graders from Vinson Bynum and Wells Elementary. Our SAR dive team helped facilitate some swim lessons for the kids. I left work early today to hand out bowls of the best baked potato soup I have ever had. The cooks HAVE IT FIGURED OUT!

I had some meaningful conversations with several people, even got to explain the roles and responsibilities to a young man who will be voting for his first time this March. We talked about several things related to law enforcement and specifically the need for great leadership and the importance of experience in law enforcement. In the face to face conversations, I answered questions about where I’m from, my career path, my education, and my experience. I explained to these folks my vision for the Sheriffs office. One where the culture is infectiously positive and proactive, a culture that demands professionalism and honesty, a culture that is transparent and accountable. I explained to these people that I am committed to being tough on crime and engaged with the community, in every aspect.

People shouldn’t see the police or law enforcement in general only when they “need” us. We need to be present for the good things too; the causal conversations, the community meetings, etc.

I dropped in at St. James Plaza and delivered food to the entire assisted living community. I even visited Ms. Annie. She is such a special lady. A couple of Christmas’s ago, I was delivering presents for the Wilson County Senior Citizen Center as part of “Senior Santa”. When I delivered to St. James Plaza, Ms. Annie was in the lobby, unfortunately I didn’t have presents for her. She started crying and told me that no one ever brings her anything. That broke my heart. I went home that day and made Ms. Annie my “angel tree”. My family and I went and put together a gift basket for her and drove it out to her that same evening. Seeing her face light up that day made my Christmas. It was good to see her today! She told me she was proud of me.

I dropped some food off to the guys that cut my hair too. They were some of the first people I met when I moved to Wilson in 2009! I dropped in on a couple of other businesses and had some really good conversations and met some new people.

Some of my team members put together a couple more big signs to put out! We got a good sunset photo behind one of the signs out on a farm!

My team is great!! My god is good!!