CHAT: Transcript of Sheriff Steve Simpson's Chat with Readers | LoudounExtra.com

Originally published at 7:18 p.m., October 20, 2007
Updated at 12:03 p.m., October 23, 2007

Incumbent Sheriff Steve Simpson was online Tuesday morning to answer questions from readers of LoudounExtra.com about his run for another term in office.

Steve Simpson: Good morning, this is Sheriff Steve Simpson. I appreciate Loudounextra.com and the Washington Post providing this opportunity to speak to the community in an open forum. I look forward to any questions or concerns that you may have.

Sheriff Steve Simpson

Harrisburg, Pa.: Have you considered a program used successfully in several places where one partially deputizes taxi drivers and delivery drivers and others who drive around the community with radio or telephone capabilities? They are trained to observe when something might be askew and to phone in a report of suspicious activity, such as someone breaking into a window. This gives law enforcement extra eyes on the community.

Steve Simpson: We need to be careful with the use of the word "deputize." Police work requires specialized training and certification, however the idea that you are talking about is important -- putting additional eyes and ears in the community, and that has been a priority of my administration. We have expanded neighborhood watch in Loudoun County, and initiated the Community Policing program to increase the interaction between my office and the public. And I can tell you it is working. With the explosion of cell phone usage, virtually everyone is able and encouraged to report suspicious activity. And they do!

Leesburg, Va.: What are your thoughts on creating a countywide police department and merging those services with that of the Leesburg police department?

Steve Simpson: Frankly, I do not see what the advantages would be to Loudoun County. We have built a first-class law enforcement agency. In the face of large population increases we have actually seen a decrease in the rate of serious crime. Our deputies are trained at one of the finest police academies in the country and there is nothing that a police department would do that isn't being done by this office. The arguments given by proponents are that 1) growth requires a police department and 2) it would take the politics out of public safety. I would point out that 1) many of the largest law enforcement agencies nationwide are sheriff's offices and 2) anyone who thinks there are no politics in police departments, where the police chief answers to the politicians, is kidding themselves. I answer to the people of Loudoun County. Additionally, we must consider the high cost to the taxpayers. Much of our budget comes from the state. A police department would cost us much more. That is a high price to pay just to change a uniform.

Ashburn, Va.: Sheriff Simpson, How will the sheriff's office change in the next few years in response to the increased vandalism and crime being experienced in Loudoun County due to the population growth?

Steve Simpson: My philosophy of law enforcement is "there is no such thing as a small crime." The little things left unattended are what brings more serious crime. This affects our quality of life. While it is true that the rate of serious crime is down in Loudoun County -- and I give our deputies the credit for that -- we must continue our efforts to involve the community. I will continue to work with the Board of Supervisors to gain additional resources to expand our presence in the community and continue to encourage citizens to become involved in Neighborhood Watch.

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South Riding, Va.: I have lived in Loudoun and have been very pleased with the relatively low crime rate and service orientation of the sheriff's office. I am an independent voter and cannot believe that so many people are running against you! If it ain't broke, don't fix it is my philosophy. Illegal immigration is not something I am happy about but it is not even on my Top 10 list of concerns in Loudoun.

Steve Simpson: I appreciate your remarks. I too feel we have been very effective in addressing all of the issues that come with a rapidly growing county.

Ashburn, Va.: I want to start off by saying, that I hope you select this question to answer, because it is important to your deputies and we want to know. Why have you opened a jail that requires a large amount of staff, but yet you don't have the staff required. Instead, lack of proper management is forcing deputies to work overtime that they don't want. No one is opposed to helping out every now and then, but it should not comsume our lives. Don't forget, deputies have lives and families too. If you are re-elected, what will you do to change this mis-managed situation?

Steve Simpson: Your question is a good one and one I deal with on a daily basis. The story you tell is important in my efforts to highlight the staffing challenges to the Board of Supervisors. Recruitment and retention are imperative to maintaining a professional staff. We cannot simply lower standards in order to fill positions. Cost of living and competition among other jurisdictions makes recruitment difficult in this region. We will continue to expand our recruitment efforts. But the county is going to have to do its part and I will continue to push for the incentives to help us maintain adequate staffing levels.

Leesburg, Va.: Under the Constitution of Virginia, the sheriff is a ministerial official who first and foremost is a servant of the courts. When so assigned by local government, the sheriff also is the city or county's policing official and, in most but not all localities, is the jailer. The Supreme Court of Virginia has held that the sheriff has absolutely no policy-making role whatsoever, and Supreme Court case law as recent as a few years back states that the sheriff is a "subordinate functionary." What is it that your political position brings to this job which other candidates don't?

Steve Simpson: Experience in all facets of the Sheriff's Office, which neither of my opponents have. The Code of Virginia that you refer to mandates a sheriff to operate the local jail, maintain courtroom security, and the serving of civil process. These mandated services can only be performed by a sheriff, not a police chief. Not only do I have hands-on experience in corrections, I planned and built a new state-of-the-art jail for Loudoun County. All this while running a full-service, accredited, law enforcement agency in one of the fastest growing counties in the nation.

Lovettsville, Va: Is there anything in the works to make it possible to file a complaint electronically or by phone? Currently I understand that a deputy has to physically drive out to a person's house to take a non-emergency complaint (such as theft of campaign signs, for example), no matter what it is. That seems inefficient.

Steve Simpson: We are constantly looking at new technologies and what you are talking about is something that will be in our future. In this current budget process we are looking to explore electronic reporting programs to report certain types of crimes. It could be very helpful with, for example, white-collar crimes, such as identity theft, Internet fraud and other financial crimes. However, I want to make sure that anytime a citizen wants to meet with a deputy face-to-face, a deputy will come to their home or business.

Ashburn, Va.: Steve, What are you doing to curb the increase in crime in Ashburn?

Steve Simpson: We currently have Community Policing Deputies in Ashburn Village and recently added a Community Policing Deputy in Ashburn Farm. We have reorganized patrol sectors and are developing community-based substations to strategically deploy our resources where they are most needed. I will also continue to work with the Board of Supervisors in the budget process to get the additional resources we need to address your concerns.

Round Hill, Va.: Should you win the election on Nov. 6, do you see a role for either of your opponents in the sheriff's office?

Steve Simpson: I have made it a practice since I first ran for sheriff in 1995 not to make promises of employment in exchange for a vote. However, anyone is free to apply and will be considered on the basis of their merit.

Steve Simpson: I understand my time is up. I want to thank everyone who participated today in this open forum. It has been my honor to be your Sheriff for the past 12 years and I will continue to work hard to protect your quality of life and continue to move this agency forward in the responsive and professional manner to which you have become accustomed. If you have further questions please free to contact me at my personal e-mail address GSIMP27633@AOL.COM or for further information visit my Web site at www.sheriffstevesimpson.com. Thanks, Steve Simpson.