Marty Gordon, NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Republicans will hold a mass meeting Saturday, June 20 to choose a candidate for Montgomery County sheriff.
The election will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Montgomery County Government Center.
Friday, the two Republican candidates met in their first and only public debate. A crowd of nearly 60 gathered at Trinity Church in Christiansburg with another 100-plus watching online.
Robert Page and Tim Shepherd answered questions from a moderator and the audience. Again, the candidates addressed the use of technology in law enforcement, especially in the case of “flock cameras.”
Flock cameras, manufactured by Flock Safety, are specialized safety, solar-powered automated license plate reader cameras utilized by police departments, neighborhoods and businesses to capture vehicle details. Instead of recording continuous video, they take still photos of passing cars.
Law enforcement agencies use these cameras to generate investigative leads. In the case of a stolen vehicle or one being used in connection to a crime, the system can send real-time alerts to police.
Flock cameras have been the subject of ongoing debate among privacy advocates. According to the manufacturer, they nor police use facial recognition, instead focusing on vehicles in public view and by default deleting data after 30 days.
Civil liberties groups like the ACLU have expressed concern over data storage. The ACLU says data is often shared across different law enforcement networks, creating a trackable, searchable database of citizen movements.
Page said law enforcement should use lawful technology like Flock Cameras to protect the public.
“This tool has saved lives. We have used it just this year to help with a child abduction case. But just like any law enforcement tool, it must be used safely,” he said.
Shepherd said he had a problem with Flock cameras, citing their use and the storage of data. Instead, he advocated for a different type of surveillance system and its cameras.
“I do not support the continued use or expansion of Flock camera systems in Montgomery County,” Shepherd said.
The forum turned to each person and their resume.
In several public appearances and in a previous forum, onlookers have questioned Page’s experience. He is the current interim sheriff and has spent his whole career with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office.
“I have already had my Day One,” said Page. “The past sheriff trusted me with a plan.”
In addition, the 42-year-old said he had plenty of leadership experience before coming to the sheriff’s department including time spent as an auctioneer in Kentucky.
Page had just been promoted to Chief Deputy shortly before being named sheriff. Up until that point, he had spent most of his time in the warrant’s division. At the previous forum, Shepherd questioned the promotion.
“Voters have asked questions about the process by which my Republican opponent was elevated into the leadership position that ultimately allowed him to become sheriff,” he said.
Friday night, Shepherd touted his time in the U.S. Marines Corps and the amount of his law enforcement experience, ranging from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office to the Salem Police Department and now with the Carilion Police Department.
“My resume is better than any of the other four candidates,” Shepherd said.
“The Marines Corps taught me to lead by example, and I still do that. While at the sheriff’s office, I did that,” he said.
“During my career, I have served as a supervisor, lieutenant, law enforcement instructor, Marines Corps veteran, EMT and public servant,” he said.
At Friday’s event, Shepherd was asked why he left the sheriff’s office and if he had been fired.
“I had a problem with the standard operating procedure of the sheriff at that time (Hank Partin), so I resigned.”
Attendees took the opportunity to ask both candidates on possible cooperation with federal ICE agents.
“I am proud of the relationships built with federal agencies in the past,” said Page. “We currently honor ICE inquiries at our jail.” Shepherd said he does not agree with current federal agreements, which could pull deputies for ICE and to help with federal law enforcement actions in other jurisdictions (287 agreement). But he would not hinder any federal law enforcement agency in the enforcement of the law.
Two of the biggest ideas Shepherd has leaned on during his campaign are a specialized K-9 for the department and a tactical medical unit.
Page chastised Shepherd over a previous statement he had made about a current department K-9 unit.
“You called our current (K-9) mediocre during last week’s previous forum. I don’t think that was fair.” Shepherd responded that he was not saying that particular dog was. Instead, he would like to see more K-9s in the department that are just trained in a particular area.
“If that is done, then they would be more highly capable of their duties whether they be drugs or search. They would be centered on one area.”
Both candidates were asked whether they would support the other one if they lose the nomination in 10 days. Page and Shepherd said yes and admitted each other had some great ideas to carry into the future.
Page said he was committed to continuing to build on what has been successful at the sheriff’s office. He called it the next chapter.
“I want to keep it (Montgomery County) as one of the safest communities in the Commonwealth.”
Shepherd said he wants to be a unifier of everyone, not just Republican and Democrat. “This job is not about politics,” he said. Both agreed the department must also do more to recruit new employees and market itself during community events.
