To the Editor:

It is time for new leadership. I am speaking of the election for sheriff.

I, unlike many Isle of Wight citizens, have had the opportunity to work for both Sheriff Charlie Phelps and Smithfield Police Chief Mark Marshall, and they are like night and day.

I started in the sheriff’s auxiliary and then gained full-time employment in 1995, and for that I am thankful. However, I realized very early on that I needed to leave the sheriff’s office. Not because of the people that I worked with, but rather the sheriff I worked for.

I saw many things that I did not agree with from an ethical perspective, and it came directly from the top. So I left the sheriff’s office in 1997 and gained employment with the Smithfield Police Department.

I was excited for this opportunity to grow where training and expertise were encouraged. Chief Marshall’s leadership style and desire to serve the community was like a breath of fresh air. I now worked for a “professional” department and was honored to be in law enforcement.

Under Chief Marshall’s leadership I watched the department grow in numbers, but most importantly I watched the standard of integrity grow. This is a standard that the citizens of Isle of Wight County deserve. This is a standard that the deputies themselves deserve.

It is time to breathe that breath of fresh air that I felt in 1997. It is time for a new sheriff. It is time that we elect Chief Marshall for the sheriff of Isle of Wight County.

I am no longer employed with Smithfield Police Department and write this as a voting citizen. Please vote.

Darrin Lindsay
Smithfield