Name as it Appears on the Ballot: Michael D. Andrews
Full legal name, if different: Michael David Andrews
Date of Birth: April 27, 1958
Campaign Web Site: http://andrewsforsheriff.com/
Occupation & Employer: Sheriff, Durham County Sheriff’s Office
Years lived in Durham: 56
Home phone: (919) 596-9887Work Phone: (919) 560-0853
Email: electandrewssheriff@gmail.com
1. How do you rate the current functioning of the Sheriff’s Office? What’s good?What’s not so good and needs improvement? If elected, what are yourpriorities?
I am proud of the commitment to public service consistently demonstrated by theleadership and as part of that, building on the long tradition of community engagement ofthe Sheriff’s Office. One way we are improving service, with the active support of theleadership, is through new technological initiatives. Specifically, our agency hasconnected with citizens in innovative ways by developing a social media presencethrough Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. The agency has taken substantial steps towardimplementing video visitation at the Detention Facility. We have worked to expand ourefforts through the Project Lifesaver program, which enables deputies to locate andrescue citizens with cognitive disorders who are at risk of wandering. Our agency hasstrived to welcome new technology such as specialized software that analyzes andvisualizes crime trends, allowing deputies to make optimal use of policing resources.
I have also sought to engage with members of the community. In particular, the Sheriff’sOffice implemented the Creating Healthy Opportunities Inspiring Children to HaveEveryday Success (C.H.O.I.C.E.S.) program, which educates young people about theconsequences of crime. Our deputies also provide gang awareness presentations toparents at schools and El Centro Hispano.
While the Sheriff’s Office has made significant advancements, I continually endeavor tomaintain a progressive posture and respond to the ever-changing environment of lawenforcement and detention services.
In my continued role as Sheriff, I will strive to facilitate safe and humane conditions atthe Detention Facility. Mindful that the number of detainees with mental health issues hasincreased, I am currently attempting to install additional suicide prevention vents in theDetention Facility and increase the number of detention officers and deputies who receivecrisis intervention training. I am also seeking to equip detention officers and deputieswith critical safety tools, such as additional deadly force alternatives and protectiveequipment that would protect our personnel if it became necessary to respond to a massdisturbance.
Our agency continues to meet the challenges of providing animal related service throughthe Animal Services Division, which the Sheriff’s Office assumed control of in July2012. In particular, agency-wide calls for service increased 40% in 2013, many of whichcan be attributed to requests of the Animal Services Division. Specifically, over 11,700calls were related to animals. This places significant demands on Animal Services staffand tele-communicators. Accordingly, I am working to bolster resources in the AnimalServices Division to provide exceptional service.
2. Some residents complain of poor relations between minorities and Durham lawenforcement, even alleging racial profiling. If elected, do you anticipate makingchanges to better serve the African-American and Latino communities?
I am aware of those complaints and would note that they have not been made about theSheriff’s Office, but I also realize that this requires vigilance. As Sheriff, I have workedto continue a culture free of bias-based policing. Investigation and enforcement actionsare conducted without regard to race or ethnicity. This is a broad effort, which begins inthe recruitment and training process and continues as we serve all citizens and visitors ofDurham through accountability and supervision. As a component of this effort, ouragency is in the process of implementing specialized software that tracks potential areasof concern, such as citizen complaints, and provides an early warning system that allowssupervisors to track possible trouble.
Our agency has also taken a proactive approach to community outreach, striving toinvolve citizens in the policing process. In particular, gang awareness presentations havebeen offered to parents at schools and El Centro Hispano. Deputies attempt to combatimpaired driving through the Impaired Driving Education and Awareness (IDEA)program, which has been offered at local high schools and El Centro Hispano.Additionally, members of our organization have assisted with events at the DurhamRescue Mission, participated in National Night Out events, and provided safetypresentations at churches, community centers, and schools.
3. What in your record as a public official or other experience demonstrates yourability to be effective on the issues you’ve identified? Please be as specific aspossible in relating past accomplishments to current goals.
As Sheriff of Durham County, I have strived to ensure public safety, combat crime, andprovide public access to the Sheriff’s Office. This effort has been realized in a number of ways. Under my leadership, the Sheriff’s Office pursued a number of new initiativesdesigned to improve our ability to deter criminal activity, and solve crimes.
TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES
Through new and enhanced technology projects, we equip deputies with tools that willaid them in protecting the public and increase citizens’ access to the Sheriff’s Office.
The agency continues to provide online crime mapping available to the public throughRAIDS Online, which is accessed through the Agency's public website,http://dconc.gov/index.aspx?page=752. This permits citizens to access greater and moreaccurate information regarding criminal activity in a given area, or by crime type.
The agency has bolstered its crime mapping tools with its implementation ofATACRAIDS. Using data from past criminal activity, this innovative technologyanalyzes and visualizes crime trends. The analytic information will be provided todeputies in the field, which allows them to make optimal use of enforcement resources.ATACRAIDS also provides greater information sharing among law enforcementagencies, a vital component of combating crime in our mobile society.
Social MediaDuring my tenure as Sheriff, the Office established its first social media presence,connecting with our citizens through the use of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Theseoutlets allow the Sheriff’s Office to communicate public service announcements, majorarrests, and activities that deputies are involved in. Moreover, these information channelsalso facilitate greater community involvement in the policing process. In keeping withthis goal, the agency has commenced its use of Nextdoor. This free service provides aprivate online forum for members of specific communities. It also allows the Sheriff’sOffice to provide public safety information to registered neighborhoods. In doing so, theagency is able to inform community members of issues that are tailored to their particulargeographic area.
Civil Tracking
This year also saw the launch of a new website feature called “Civil Paper Lookup” withthe use of existing agency resources and assistance from the County’s InformationServices & Technology Department. Expected to improve customer service, citizens cannow view the status of civil process paperwork dating back to one year from the date ofissuance. This effort also aims to increase efficiency. In particular, the service willprovide an additional outlet of information, which will lessen the telephone inquiriesrelated to the more than 40,000 civil process papers we serve each year, allowing clerksto focus on their numerous other responsibilities.
Video Visitation
Utilizing grant funds, the Sheriff’s Office has undertaken efforts to begin implementationof video visitation at the detention facility. During the first phase of implementation,detainees’ friends and family members will be able to schedule visitation online. The next phase will provide video visitation booths. This capability will more safely andefficiently accommodate the more than 30,000 visitors to the detention facility each yearand greatly expand the ability of inmates to connect with their loved ones.
CITIZEN SUPPORT
Modern law enforcement is more than the apprehension of criminals, it also involvesseeking ways to deter criminal activity before it occurs, and occasionally seekingdeferrals from the traditional criminal justice process. Furthermore, the Sheriff's Officehas a long and distinguished tradition of community support outside of law enforcement.My initiatives in that area include:
Mental Health Training
We continue to utilize alternatives to conventional enforcement action when encounteringcitizens with mental illness. Through the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program, theSheriff’s Office has partnered with other local law enforcement agencies and mentalhealth providers to equip detention officers and deputy sheriffs with the skills they needto more appropriately identify and respond to people facing a mental health dilemma. Thegoal in most of these situations is to resolve a situation without the use of force and witha self-referral for mental health treatment as opposed to criminal charges. To date, over120 detention officers and deputy sheriffs have received CIT training, and the agencycontinues to outfit personnel with this critical resource.
Youth Involvement
The Sheriff’s Office also has sought to educate young people about the consequences ofengaging in criminal activity. In an effort to achieve this goal, the Sheriff’s Officeimplemented the Creating Healthy Opportunities Inspiring Children to Have EverydaySuccess (C.H.O.I.C.E.S.) program. Aimed at youth ages 11-16, C.H.O.I.C.E.S. providesan interactive tour for youth through the arrest and booking process. The tour culminateswith the Teen Summit, which facilitates open discussions with youth about issues thatthey face. With the assistance of Family Academic Mentoring Empowerment (F.A.M.E.),counselors provide parenting strategies training and family mentoring. This initiativeaims to equip youth with essential skills necessary to support positive choices. Thesecomplement our longstanding commitment to youth through the School ResourceOfficers and Gang Resistance Education And Training (GREAT) program.Project Lifesaver
Certain individuals may be at risk of harm due to cognitive impairment. To assist them,the Sheriff’s Office has joined the Project Lifesaver program. With the use of a smallpersonal transmitter worn around the wrist or ankle which emits an individualizedtracking signal, Project Lifesaver enables public safety agencies to locate and rescueindividuals with cognitive disorders who are at risk of wandering. The Agency remainsvigilant about identifying citizens that could benefit from the program, establishingrelationships with medical professionals and advocacy groups to identify those most inneed. We continue to fundraise and acquire the necessary equipment to satisfy thisimportant objective.
Other Community Involvement
Agency personnel also devote considerable time beyond their official duties serving thecommunity. In particular, deputies read to children at schools and daycares. Gangawareness presentations have been offered to parents at schools and El Centro Hispano.Deputies attempt to combat impaired driving through the Impaired Driving Educationand Awareness (IDEA) program, which has been offered at local high schools and ElCentro Hispano. Additionally, members of our organization have assisted with events atthe Durham Rescue Mission, participated in National Night Out events, and providedsafety presentations at churches, community centers, and schools.
NEW AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES
Courthouse
The transition to the new Justice Center presented opportunities to increase public safetyand enhance public service. The increased size of the facility required the addition of 11deputies to supplement existing courthouse security personnel. The new facility also sawthe installation of a substantial camera system. Monitored by deputies, the camerasprovide an additional resource to advance courthouse safety efforts for staff and visitors.Since its opening, deputies have recovered more than 2,200 weapons and made over 500arrests at the Justice Center. We have also created a Courthouse Response Teamspecifically trained to deal with shooting incidents should they occur in the JusticeCenter.
Animal Services
At the request of the Board of County Commissioners we assumed control of, andresponsibility for, Animal Services in July 2012. We are now responsible for strays,dangerous dogs, rabies enforcement, to include providing vaccinations, surrender ofunwanted animals, and investigating animal cruelty cases. Although working with thesame number of staff as they had before, we have seen unprecedented expansion ofdemands for service. Agency-wide calls for service increased 40% in 2013, many ofwhich can be attributed to requests of the Animal Services Division. Specifically, over11,700 calls were related to animals. To meet these demands we evaluated call servicerequirements and shifted schedules to expand coverage by Animal Services personnel toinclude evenings and weekends, periods when Animal Services had not previouslyprovided coverage.
So long as I am Sheriff we will build on these accomplishments, address the challengesof policing, and strive to deliver exceptional service to the citizens of Durham County.
4. The INDY’s mission is to help build a just community in the Triangle. Pleasepoint to a specific position in your platform that would, if achieved, help furtherthat goal.
I am committed to community engagement as a critical component of effective publicservice. As the Sheriff’s Office strives to develop relationships with the public, we aremindful of Durham’s diversity and endeavor to maintain an agency that is responsive tothe needs of all of our citizens. In particular, I recognize the need to expand contact with the Hispanic/Latino community and involve these citizens in the policing process.Accordingly, I am seeking to bolster our bilingual ability within the agency and increaseour participation in community events to facilitate greater rapport with theHispanic/Latino community. A law enforcement agency that is responsive to the needs ofall its citizens can build trust, promote a greater sense of community, and realize greatereffectiveness in crime reduction efforts.
5. Despite recent growth in business and urban development, Durham is perceivedby some to be a place of persistent crime. Is that a fair assessment?
While crime is a persistent issue in our society, not just in Durham, the Sheriff’s Officeendeavors to combat crime through a diverse array of efforts. In particular, our agencyrelies on innovative technology, community outreach, and proactive crime preventionmeasures. Fortunately, the crime rate in the County of Durham, which does not includethe City limits, decreased 21% in 2013.
6. Durham’s jail and courts are full of drug defendants. Has the so-called War onDrugs been taken too far?
Illegal drug activity, and the crimes that can result from drug use, need to be addressed.However, this is not a matter that should be relegated solely to law enforcement agencies.Specifically, the criminal justice system should utilize assistance from communitypartners to address rehabilitation needs and the underlying issues that often lead tosubstance abuse. Accordingly, our agency supports the use of drug court to provide analternative to incarceration. Additionally, we host the Substance Abuse Treatment andRecidivism Reduction (STARR) program and an additional component for STARRgraduates, the STARR GRAD program, for inmates in the Detention Facility.
7. What do you think about the decriminalization of marijuana?
As Sheriff, I will continue to enforce existing federal, state, and local laws. NorthCarolina law prohibits active sentences for minimal marijuana possession violations, andI support that provision. Further, minor marijuana possession offenses remain among ourlowest law enforcement priorities. Our agency focuses on preventing crimes againstpeople and property.
8. Some inmates have complained about unsanitary jail conditions. Is there anyway to eliminate such complaints?
The Sheriff’s Office has worked to provide a safe and sanitary facility. Recently, Idirected that cells that had been defaced with graffiti to be repainted and we are moreclosely monitoring those conditions to stop inmates from defacing their cells. Under myleadership, we have upgraded kitchen equipment, replaced flooring, and exchangedoutdated laundry equipment for new models. Our staff constantly monitors these andother related issues to ensure that we are providing an appropriate confinement environment. Moreover, we encourage inmates to voice concerns and we strive to addressany in an expedient manner.
9. When you suspect a newly admitted inmate is an undocumented immigrant, doyou feel the need to report it to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement?
We continue to comply with the requirements of North Carolina General Statute 162-62,which requires us to run checks with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) whenany person is charged with a felony or impaired driving offense.
10. Identify a principled stand you have taken or would be willing to take if elected,even if you suspect might cost you popularity with voters.
I have and will continue to enforce the State prohibition against internet sweepstakesbusinesses, so long as the law is in effect. The Sheriff’s Office has proactively respondedto citizen reports, conducted thorough investigations and initiated enforcement actions.While this has generated some public resistance, I will continue to enforce the NorthCarolina law related to internet gambling.
11. Identify some areas in the sheriff’s department budget where money could becut and others where more funding is needed.
In recent years, the Sheriff’s Office lost 21 positions, which impaired our ability to servethe citizens and visitors of Durham County. For instance, our ability to combat juveniletruancy and elder abuse were diminished because of the lessened capacity to devoteworkforce resources to specific issues. Instead, existing employees were required toabsorb these specialized functions. We have not regained these positions. Accordingly, Ifind it difficult to identify areas where the agency budget could withstand furtherreductions.
As it relates to funding needs, my current budget priorities are to provide additionalsuicide prevention measures in the Detention Facility, equip deputies and detentionofficers with additional alternatives to deadly force, and obtain additional in-car camerasto promote officer safety and enhance transparency. Additionally, I am seeking fundingto add positions, some of which would bolster the resources of the Animal ServicesDivision to adequately respond to citizen complaints and effectively enforce laws relatedto animal protection.
