|
L.D. “Len” Hagaman became the first Democrat to throw his hat in the ring for Watauga County Sheriff this week.
Hagaman is a former police officer and municipal administrator who has served in a variety of local government roles, all of which will give him experience in running the sheriff’s office, he said. Hagaman is a former town manager of Boone and served four terms on the Watauga board of commissioners.
Hagaman served as a sworn officer and part-time volunteer for the sheriff’s office before taking a job with the Boone Police Department in 1976. He served as juvenile officer, then a patrol officer and investigator, before becoming an administrative assistant to the chief of police. In 1983, he became town manager, a position he held until 1991. He later worked for several other towns in a range of administrative positions. He’s consulted in a number of government roles as well, including terrorist vulnerability assessments.
“I’m getting back to my roots,” he said, adding that he’s kept his annual certification up-to-date as a sworn officer in the Boone Police Department. “I’m eminently qualified. It’s always something I’ve been interested in. It’s in the blood, somehow.”
Hagaman said he has experience working with a range of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. He’s also a certified instructor Basic Law Enforcement Training and has taught Criminal Justice classes. He said he has supervisory experience and, having served as a commissioner, he understands the budgeting issues of the office.
Hagaman said he would support improved training of deputies and staff and build cooperation between different agencies. He also said the department should be a visible part of the community.
“For any police agency, it might be folks’ only contact with government,” Hagaman said. “Whether it’s an accident or having a house break-in or finding a lost child.”
Hagaman said public awareness, through such programs as Neighborhood Watch, were good crime deterrents, saying he’d like to open up channels of communication with the public. “I’m not saying it’s not occurring now, but it’s almost a full-time job in itself,” he said.
He said while much of police work is reactionary, in responding to calls, Hagaman believes a proactive approach can reduce property crimes, particularly in telling people what to beware.
Hagaman acknowledges the political side of a sheriff’s race, but said he believes once a sheriff takes office, he or she no longer worries about political affiliations. He also is prepared to administer the new jail and law enforcement center that should open this year, and said he’d worked with the same architect in Lenoir. Hagaman said he was familiar with the jail design.
Hagaman said though he is not a career police officer, his administrative experience should appeal to voters. “I’m a cop myself,” he said. “I just hope voters take my qualifications and desires and apply them accordingly.”
Republicans Mark Shook and Joe Moody have also filed for the sheriff’s race.
|
