ISLE OF WIGHT—The head of the Newport News Police homicide unit is running for sheriff of Isle of Wight County.

Richard H. “Rick” Gaddis announced Tuesday he would seek the office currently held by C.W. Phelps, who plans to seek a seventh, four-year term in the Nov. 8 General Election.

“My number one priority is crime — protecting you from it, aggressively pursuing those who commit it and addressing the conditions that allow it to occur in the first place,” Gaddis said in a statement.

If elected, he would pursue accreditation for the department through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies to help bring oversight upon the office.

“It acts as a blueprint for modern law enforcement primarily by maintaining a body of standards covering a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives,” Gaddis said. “CALEA will formalize essential management procedures, establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices, improve service delivery, and solidify interagency cooperation and coordination. As a result, we increase community and staff confidence in the agency.”

The job pays $80,209 annually.