My name is Rodney Spears and I am a Democratic candidate for Sheriff of Pearl River County.

You may ask yourself why you should vote for me. What separates Rodney Spears from the other candidates for Sheriff of Pearl River County?

I believe that experience should be essential in these changing times for our county. I feel that I have the necessary qualifications to meet the needs of our citizens.

I have dedicated my entire adult life to law enforcement. I began my career at 20 years old as a patrolman with the New Orleans Police Department. I retired from the Department after 20 years of service. During that time I received training in all aspects of law enforcement ranging from bicycle theft to homicide. I received more than 20 commendations from both the NOPD and citizens groups, two medals for outstanding police work, a Silver Star for Bravery from the American Federation of Police, and the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award. I also received additional honors from various other groups.

After retiring from the NOPD, I began work as a security shift supervisor at Stennis Space Center. While there, I received training and certification in Federal Arrest Authority.

In 1992, I was hired as the chief investigator for the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office. I was later promoted the position of chief deputy for the Department. I served in this capacity until being offered a position as the project manager overseeing a detention facility for the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Florence, Ariz. I accepted this position and was responsible for 135 security officers in a facility that housed 1,100 inmates. When my contract with INS ended, I returned home to Pearl River County and was reinstated as the chief deputy for the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department.

After leaving the Sheriff’s Department in 2000, I began working with the Mississippi Department of Corrections as a field officer supervising the House Arrest program. I am currently employed in this position.

Those are the qualifications in both field enforcement and administration that I feel will assist me in being a strong, capable and confident sheriff for our changing county.

Aside from my law enforcement experiences, I am a veteran of the Vietnam war, having served with D Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment of the United States Marine Corps. I am also a Past Master of the Sherrard Bryd Masonic Lodge in Poplarville.

In my personal life, my family has lived in Pearl River County for the past 24 years. My wife, Kathy, and I have been married for 39 years and have raised our two children. Scott Spears and Shannon Spears Howard in this County. We now enjoy watching our three grandchildren grow up here and hope they will have the opportunity to grow in a safe environment.

As for campaign promises, I will make one campaign promise to the citizens of Pearl River County. I promise to enforce the law, and will make my decisions based on evidence and the law, not on politics.