Maj. Todd Godwin Replaces Sheriff Larry Giddens

Beginning August 1, 2011 Major Todd Godwin will begin his new job as Accomack County Sheriff.  He will fill the position for Sheriff Larry Giddens who has decided to take his retirement before his first terms ends at  the end of 2011.

Major Godwin was sworn in by (Ret) Judge Glen Tyler with  his wife and sons by his side.  Retired Judge Tyler was specially appointed to administer the oath.



Maj. Todd Godwin and family, Retired Judge Glen Tyler
Photo/ Linda Cicoira

The best of luck to you Sheriff Larry Giddens in your retirement.

Accomack County Sheriff's Office Accepting Scholarship Applications

Accomack County Sheriff Larry J. Giddens, Sr., announced today that he is accepting applications for the Virginia Sheriffs' Institute Scholarship Program. The VSI Program was established to provide an opportunity for young people across Virginia to pursue an educational curriculum in law enforcement or criminal justice. Full-time and Part-time students are eligible for this program and all applicants must meet the requirements set forth by the Virginia Sheriffs' Institute in order to qualify as a recipient of the VSI scholarship award.

Applicants must live in the locality where the sheriff is a member of the Virginia Sheriffs' Institute.

Applicants must be accepted to Virginia Colleges and Universities with a major in the criminal justice field.

All students interested in the Virginia Sheriffs' Institute Scholarship Program for the 2011/2012 school year should contact Karen C. Barrett of the Accomack County Sheriff's Office @ 787-1131, 824-5666, 891-2489.

Applications may be obtained from the Accomack County Sheriff's Office and must be completed and returned by April 15, 2011.

www.shoredailynews.com

Maj. Todd E. Godwin Announces Candidacy for Sheriff

ACCOMAC -- Todd E. Godwin, a longtime deputy with the Accomack County Sheriff's Office, formally announced his candidacy for sheriff in the November election.

Godwin has over 25 years experience in law enforcement and is a 20-year veteran of the sheriff's office.

Godwin, of Parksley, will run as an independent for the post, which has been held by Sheriff Larry Giddens since 2008. Giddens is retiring.

Godwin has been chief deputy second in command with the rank of major in the department since January 2008.

Godwin began his law-enforcement career in 1985 as an officer with the Parksley Police Department followed by employment with the Virginia State Police as a weight-enforcement officer in 1987.

Godwin then joined the sheriff's office in 1990 as a patrol deputy and became the county's first certified K-9 officer in 1994 with his K-9 partner, Nitro.

He was promoted to corporal in 1995 and patrol lieutenant in 1999.

As lieutenant, Godwin was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the uniform patrol division, including the SWAT team, K-9 units, dive teams, and dispatch.

In 2002, Godwin also assumed responsibility of supervising animal control and began supervising the newly constructed Eastern Shore Regional Animal Control Facility in 2005.

In addition to his training at the Peninsula Tidewater Academy of Criminal Justice and the Virginia State Police Academy, he has received training in numerous areas during his career. Those areas include lawful employment practices for law enforcement, freedom of information training, managing jail risk and liability, budgeting for criminal justice executives, FBI first line supervisor school, liability issues for K-9 handlers, raid liability and planning, FEMA national incident management system ICS-100, 200, 700, 300 and 400, breath alcohol operator course, vehicle inspection course, uniform drug interdiction training, SWAT training, basic and advance patrol and narcotic K-9 schools, street survival and tactical use of police K-9, basic radar operator, domestic violence training, community policing in small town and rural areas, basic animal control school, and gang training.

As chief deputy, Godwin is responsible for the management of all departmental divisions to include law enforcement, corrections, courtroom security/civil process, communications, animal control and the animal control facility.

The Accomack County Sheriff's Office consists of 75 sworn and non-sworn personnel.

Godwin is a member of the Eastern Shore of Virginia 911 Commission, member of the Chesapeake Bay ASAP Policy Board and a member of the Eastern Shore Regional Jail Board.

Godwin, 46, resides in Parksley, with his wife, Sheila, and their two sons, Johnnie and Logan.
www.easternshorenews.com

Accomack County Sheriff Giddens To Retire

ACCOMAC — Accomack County Sheriff Larry Giddens has announced he will retire Dec. 31, 2011, at the end of his current term in office. Giddens, 54, was elected the county’s first African-American sheriff in 2007 with 49 percent of the vote, easily defeating two other men who also ran for the office after Sheriff Robert Crockett announced he would not seek a sixth term.

Giddens has served 24 years with the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office, in addition to four years before that with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel police.

Among other duties over the years, Giddens was the county’s first DARE officer, a job he said was his favorite. He also served as court service deputy.

He was promoted to sergeant in 1991 and to lieutenant in charge of the patrol division in 1994 before becoming captain and the department’s chief deputy.

Giddens was instrumental in the 2003 accreditation process for the department, which was one of only 14 in the state fully accredited at the time from the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standard Commission.

Despite his many years of experience with the Sheriff’s Office, Giddens said he did not fully understand the pressures that come with the top job until he became sheriff.

“I didn’t imagine the magnitude, the pressure, of the job until I stepped into it,” he said.

Giddens said the sheriff’s office has within its ranks a strong candidate to replace him.

“We have a strong chain of command that is in place that knows the business, and I feel strongly that they will continue to serve the public in the way they’ve been used to,” Giddens said, adding, “My blessings and prayers are with my major, my second in command, Todd Godwin.”

Giddens said when he became sheriff two and a half years ago he had planned to run for a second term, but has since decided to retire. In Virginia, law enforcement officers with hazardous duty can retire at age 50 with 25 years of service.

Giddens’ retirement plans include substitute teaching, coaching area youth and some traveling, as well as catching up on projects around the house.

“I’m not planning on sitting down,” he said.

And Giddens had some advice for whoever steps into the position next: “The number one thing is to continue to be honest, open-minded and put people first.

www.delmarvanow.com