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Good Day My Taylor County Neighbors,
My name is Rick Jones. l am a lifelong resident of Grafton and I am running for the office of Taylor County Sheriff.
My wife of more than 40 years, Kathy, a graduate of WVU, educated the students of Taylor County for more than 40 years. She taught elementary school age children at Hepzibah, Anna Jarvis, Pruntytown, and ended her career at Flemington Elementary School. She has since reentered the education field to instruct Pre-K at Anna Jarvis Elementary, in Grafton, WV due to short term teacher shortage.
Kathy and I have 2 children, Bryce Jones {Valerie} and Kali Keener {Hartsel} both families are residents of Taylor County, WV., and successful in their own careers. We are blessed with four grandchildren; Kenna and Kaden Keener and Hyson and Hazel Jones.
I have been a volunteer coach for youth sports in Taylor County for more than 45 years and held coaching positions within the public schools for 4 decades. I am exceedingly proud to have been a coach, educator and mentor of Taylor County youth. I am currently a substitute educator and an assistant ladies' basketball coach at Grafton High School.
The specific education and background of which I will draw from as your Sheriff; Graduated ‘summa cum laude’ honors with a BS in Organizational Leadership, Mountain State University, Beckley, WV.; graduate of Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons Federal Law Enforcement Training Center “FLETC”, Brunswick, Ga.; graduate of West Virginia State Police Academy [63™], Institute, WV; and dozens of certificates of training within law enforcement program of studies. I have received more than a dozen relevant certificates related to current criminal behaviors, within the past 2 years from my current employment as Investigator at the Taylor County WV Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
My law enforcement background includes a history in employment with the US Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons as a Senior Officer; with the City of Grafton, WV as a Patrolman and Orientation/Training Officer; with the Monongalia County Sheriff's Office as a security intake / transport officer; and with the Taylor County Sheriff's Department as a Deputy Sheriff.
I have 10 years of law enforcement experience that will serve as a framework and foundation in managing peace enforcement relevant to the complexities of the current real world, administering courthouse security and peripherals of the adjudication processes and criminal activity in our Taylor County community.
As your sheriff, ethical policing will be our guiding principle. Continued education will be required of all team members to keep abreast of current changes to law and its application. All law enforcement personnel will be accountable for the proper use of applied policing methods. The department will build trust relationships with the community. This effort ensures improved interaction with citizens during stressful situations.
There are changing attitudes within our society that can sometimes be erroneous in perception of law enforcement. With that said, my law enforcement background and training does recognize the accepted theory of community law enforcement and the abstract principles of ethics, responsibility and trust. I pledge to you, under my leadership, the Taylor County Sheriff's Department members, by the accountability for each, in the virtue of honor to service, will safeguard the laws of our country, state and county, and protect those individual rights of the citizen.
As your Sheriff, my promise to all citizens as a facilitator of justice, are my three A’s; “Accessibility, Accountability and Adaptability.” Your Taylor County Sheriff's Department, under my guidance, will adhere to these three guidelines in providing policies and processes to better advance a successful organization within the county.
Remember it’s, “Your Vote, My Duty.”
Thank you for your interest in my candidacy as your Taylor County Sheriff. I ask for your vote to deliver a service with substantial value to all citizens.
With sincere appreciation to the Taylor County Community,
