Todd Lloyd has seen a little bit of everything in his 19 years as an Augusta County sheriff’s deputy.
“I believe that one of the characteristics that makes me stand out in this field of candidates is that I am the only one who has worked in or been associated with nearly every division of the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office,” said Lloyd, one of the four candidates in the running for the elected Augusta County sheriff position on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
Lloyd, the son of former Augusta County sheriff Glenn Lloyd, who died after a battle with cancer in 1998, began his career in law enforcement working at the Augusta County Jail, before moving on to stints in court services, the SWAT team, criminal and narcotics investigations and warrant services.
“Law enforcement is all I have ever known,” said Lloyd, and his experiences across the sheriff’s office have given him a feel for how it all pieces together.
“I know how each department works and I understand their budgets. I am aware of the needs of each department and I have a wide range of specialized training in many different areas. I have also worked with numerous federal agencies on various criminal cases and have a great relationship with local, state, and federal agencies. Having worked in a variety of positions, I am fully aware of what it will take to be proficient in every division within the sheriff’s office,” Lloyd said.
He lists three top priorities for the sheriff’s office in his campaign platform: internal movement and restructuring, strengthening and repairing relationships, and restoring the office’s state accreditation.
Lloyd also wants to actively engage the sheriff’s office in investigations of online sex crimes against children.
“By having our deputies participate with other local law enforcement agencies in online sting operations that take place several times throughout the year, we can ensure that the children in our community are protected from those using the Internet for harm,” said Lloyd, who wants to create a division of deputies to handle investigations of online sex crimes full time.
Restructuring the sheriff’s office should allow for the push against Internet sex-crime activity within existing budget constraints, Lloyd said.
Another area of focus for Lloyd is on combating the distribution of illegal narcotics in Augusta County.
“As a narcotics investigator for eight years and after having been a supervisor at the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office for several years now, I know firsthand about the drug problem we have here in Augusta County,” Lloyd said. “We continue to work tirelessly, fighting the war on drugs and gangs in our area. Educating our youth as early as possible is also key. We don’t want to wait until it’s too late to teach our children about the dangers and effects of drugs.”
Lloyd would assign more sheriff’s deputies to the regional narcotics and gang task force.
“In order to be effective in this area, we have to promote strong working relationships with other law enforcement agencies, citizens of the county, and with our schools,” Lloyd said. “The citizens are the eyes and ears that law enforcement officers rely on to get information. This greatly improves the chances for being successful in eliminating and reducing the use of drugs and gang affiliation in our county.
“Drugs are often a key factor when crimes are committed. If elected, I will ensure that deputies receive as much specialized and up-to-date training as possible so that we can keep Augusta County safe,” Lloyd said.
Lloyd said he supported Sheriff Randy Fisher’s move to voluntarily withdraw the sheriff’s office from the accreditation process after it became public that nearly $4,000 in cash was missing from the office’s evidence room, and that there was and still is no indication of how the money came to be missing.
The decision to withdraw from the accreditation review process “will allow the next sheriff and his administration to immediately start the re-accreditation process with a clean slate,” Lloyd said.
“I think it is very important to restore our accreditation as soon as possible. That is why if I am elected sheriff, it will be one of my top priorities,” said Lloyd, who feels that “being accredited holds the department to a higher standard and helps to ensure that all employees, regardless of rank, are held accountable for their actions.”
Re-accreditation would also go a long way to restoring public trust in the sheriff’s office.
“It is extremely important for deputies to be visible throughout the community and to build relationships with citizens and business owners,” Lloyd said. “I want them to get to know each area within the county and to take the time to solve problems when called upon. Deputies need to be seen at the schools and to gain the trust and respect of the youth within our county, so that if they need help, they feel comfortable reaching out to someone in our department.”
That’s what motivated Lloyd to put his name into the running for the sheriff position.
“I am committed to working with the entire community to ensure that Augusta County is safe place,” Lloyd said. “As a father of two young children, I want my children to grow up in a county they are proud to call home, a place where they feel safe. I want to work with school officials to help keep our schools secure and the students protected, and I want the residents of this county to feel confident that when they call for help, the deputies at the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office will be fully trained and equipped to handle any situation.
“I strongly believe that if I am elected sheriff, all of these goals will be attainable,” Lloyd said.
– Story by Chris Graham
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