Candidates for Crawford County Sheriff answer the questions on voter's minds based on Listening Lab Results
In sit down interviews with each candidate for sheriff, 13WMAZ asked about issues important to you: violent crime, ethics in government and response times
Crawford County Sheriff's Race Answering your questions from the Listening Lab
13WMAZ is bringing you answers to questions you have for candidates based on the information viewers gave us during the 2024 Listening Labs.
This election cycle, we're incorporating the results we gathered from the Listening Lab surveys Central Georgians filled out earlier in the year.
In Crawford County, the top 5 issues participants pointed out were: inflation, violent crime, ethics in government, federal and state spending, and taxes.
We sat down with the two candidates in the race for sheriff: Lewis Walker and Gene Parker.
In separate sit-down interviews, we discussed the three issues you said were most important to you regarding the sheriff's race: violent crime, ethics in government, and inflation.
Violent Crime Listening lab issue 1
What would you do to reduce violent crimes in Crawford County?
Walker: Being vigilant and having a relationship in the community that we serve is really important. We got some training right now called community-oriented police and it is basically law enforcement having a relationship with their community
Parker: Increase the control visibility; visibility is 90% of crime determined when they see police officers in the area; they tend not to commit the crime because they don't want to get caught
What role do firearms play in Crawford County crime and what needs to be done to address it?
Walker: We bring it in, and we investigate it, and we request an investigation if its death or crime. if it's not death or serious crime than we pretty much do our own investigation.
Parker: The deputies need to know who needs guns and who doesn't need guns. We need to detour the illegal tour of guns. Drugs play a big part in drugs.
How can you work with the sheriff’s office to ensure violent offenders are prosecuted effectively & would you do anything differently?
Walker: We work together as a team to ensure that we do everything the correct way. I've been sheriff for 16 years and it starts with the team
Parker: Talk to the DA and let's make sure the people are getting prosecuted. I watched the discussion page and listened to the community's needs. Right now, its animal control, and drugs. That needs to be addressed and its something I plan to do the very first day
Ethics in government Listening lab issue 2
How will you work to build public trust and demonstrate ethical behavior in law enforcement?
Walker: Coming in having the right attitude the right work ethics we are going to get them the right training they need to serve this community those are things that you'll have to do to have that.
Parker: Being there for the people, having an open-door policy, and talking to them getting out in the community, being seen, letting them know that I'm no different than them.
What will you do to avoid conflicts of interest while serving as sheriff?
Walker: Continue to do what I do every day, doing the right thing, being truthful to the people in our community that we serve if you lose the trust of the people and that's important.
Parker: Being open with the people, answering the questions of the people, don't turn your back on the people who are asking questions
How would you ensure transparency within the sheriff’s office?
Walker: If we have a situation involving my people i will use force situation. We have in call video body cams to help us to make sure that our deputies are following our policies that we have in our sheriff's department
Parker: Car cameras, body cameras, holding not just the deputies responsible but the citizens as well. If they come in making a complaint on a deputy and if they put it in writing and it turns out to be false, they will be charged.
Response times Listening lab issue 3
How do you deal with response times when people need you?
Walker: Our goal is to try and get there in a reasonable time frame and be proactive when we get there and do what we were there for that needed situation that's going on at that time.
Parker: Try to have more deputies in the county have them closer to the incident response get them there quickly also something we do in Twiggs we answer medical calls.
Is there anything different that you will do to benefit the community's needs?
Walker: We will continue to be involved in with what going on in our community different events that go on I'm there.
Parker: Enforce the laws, build a better jail, make sure the court cases go through with the courts and listen to the needs of the community.
Why are you running for sheriff?
Walker: I love what I do, and I still enjoy working with the men's and women at the sheriff's office.
Parker: I see so many things lacking here that are being done in other departments its not a matter of raising tax dollars its a matter of doing what needs to be done.
Meet the candidates Background
Incumbent Lewis Walker is 64. He lives in roberta. He's been sheriff for 16 years and served as a deputy for 21 years before that.
He has two children and two grandkids.
Gene Parker is 50. He lives in Lizella. He told us he's been a firefighter for 10 years and in law enforcement for 20 years. He's now a deputy in Twiggs County.
Parker has a daughter and son.
ELECTION 2024
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