Editor, Smithfield Times

There are many things that I am not knowledgeable about, but for the past 40 years I have been affiliated in one form or another with law enforcement agencies and officers on a local and national level, and feel I am qualified and knowledgeable about this aspect of our community.

Four years ago Sheriff Mark Marshall took what can only described as a disorganized embarrassment called a Sheriffs Department and has in that short period of time turned it into a professional accredited law enforcement agency — an agency that went from the lowest reputation in the local law enforcement community to the highest.

Sheriff Marshall has as sterling qualifications as any leader of any local law enforcement agency that I am aware of. Many years in local law enforcement with 20 of those years as Smithfield’s Police Chief, four years as Isle of Wight Sheriff, Graduate of the FBI National Academy and president of the very prestigious International Association of Chiefs of Police.

I could go into additional qualifications such his high level of education and having the endorsement of every notable local association , but the aforementioned should give anyone enough knowledge to know that he is highly qualified to be Isle of Wight sheriff. I have looked into the qualifications of his opponent and find nothing notable at all — a stint as a deputy with a large part of that on disability, no experience leading any agency and not much else.

I do not see how any person with the common ability to compare the qualifications of the two individuals and what they have accomplished can come to any decision but to vote to re-elect Sheriff Mark Marshall. If after all he has accomplished he does not deserve to retain his position, no one does.

Volpe Boykin
Carrsville