Incumbent Todd Godwin was the first to address the gathering, highlighting his 26 years of law enforcement experience, 21 years of which have been served in the office he now administers. Godwin was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff Larry Giddens who retired in August and is now seeking to win his first election to the post.
Challenging Godwin is Walter Marks who retired from the Virginia State Police and now serves as the Chief of Police for the Town of Onley. The third candidate in the race to be decided Tuesday is David Rogers, a former deputy with the Sheriffs Office.
He also called for more Neighborhood Watches, utilizing utility and delivery persons as extra eyes for the department and increased visibility.
Rogers called for more manpower and education. He said more manpower could be obtained by establishing a sheriffs auxiliary and an education program could help people learn how not to become a victim.
When asked about improvements for the jail, Rogers said the department is dealing with an outdated, overpopulated facility. He said 24 hour nursing is needed and training for officers to better identify inmates with mental illness. He also called for the construction of a sally port for security in transferring prisoners from vehicles to the jail.
Marks said as sheriff he would immediately conduct a security survey in order to make the facility as safe as possible for the inmates, but more importantly for the people who work there.
Godwin said the jail, built in 1968, is structurally sound and secure as are the policies by which it is administered. He noted that a grant received last year provided for the placement of video cameras in all single cells and cell blocks. Godwin said he would continue the jails GED and ministry program as well as work release trash details, programs the other candidates said they also support.
All three candidates also spoke in support of cooperation among all law enforcement agencies on the Shore with Marks calling for regular meetings to disseminate information among officers. Rogers agreed and called for a hot sheet to be regularly distributed to share information on cases. Godwin noted that he has already held on roundtable with other agencies, that his office is sharing be on the lookout notices and are informing police chiefs when incidents happen within their towns.