Augusta County is blessed to have the three deputies running for Augusta County sheriff. I have met two of them and have a friend that worked with all of them. All are professionals and conduct themselves as such. However one clearly stands a step above the others.
In February, 2012, I embarked on a multi-county fundraiser for the construction of the “Virginia Public Safety Memorial.” Virginia was one of six states not to have a memorial for our fallen public safety workers. Law Enforcement, Firefighters, Correctional Officers, National Guard and others with a public safety classification had no memorial to never be forgotten for their sacrifice.
I contacted local agencies for support and received one reply from the Augusta County Sheriff’s Department. It was from Deputy Almarode whom supported my fundraising efforts for months!
His support helped build the memorial for the surviving family’s members which has 870 names. One name is for the Augusta County Deputy lost in the line of duty in 1941.
During December. 2013, I contacted Deputy Almarode again for assistance. Frontier Drive by the Staunton Mall was not signed correctly. The lack of speed limit signage created a safety issue and tickets for motorist. Deputy Almarode assisted me with successfully obtaining signage from V-Dot.
Deputy Almarode is known as a good christian and family man. His administrative, training and law enforcement abilities are second to none. I heard these things about him five years before we communicated. Some of his opponent’s friends / supporters, I have spoken to are conceding these facts.
He is the example of what we want our law enforcement officers to be.
I have seen good and bad Law Enforcement leaders and Prosecutors since 1989 when I joined a Sheriff’s Department as a reserve Officer. There is no substitute for a highly trained leader with the highest morals, ethics, and professionalism.
Augusta County will be a highly respected department under the leadership of Sheriff Almarode.
– Letter from James Gibson/Staunton
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