My name is Frank Vaccarella and I am announcing my candidacy for Sheriff of Pearl River County.

I am running as an Independent American candidate. I feel the chief law enforcement officer of the county should be neutral as it relates to politics. I am an American first before I am a Republican or a Democrat. My views and beliefs are conservative. I believe the Sheriff’s Department belongs to the people. The Sheriff’s Department should always be responsible, transparent and accountable to the citizens. The sheriff serves at the will of the people.

Secondly, individuals need to take responsibility for their actions and the Sheriff’s Department is there to insure they do. I also believe every able young person should go to school and every able adult should make an honest living. The Sheriff’s Department’s responsibility is to guarantee every citizen the right to go the school, work and most importantly, live in a peaceful and safe environment. This task will be mission one for my administration.

On Nov. 8, you have an opportunity to declare your independenc. On this day I respectfully ask for your support and vote so together we can bring the Sheriff’s Department into the 21st Century. I have 28 years of combined law enforcement experience and I want to put it to good use making Pearl River County safer. I believe I have the right experience, leadership and knowledge to begin to eliminate crime in Pearl River County.

My pledge: As your sheriff, on my very first day my team and I will begin to run criminals out of town. Also on my first day my fiscal reform plan will allow me, with the stroke of an ink pen, to save the residents of Pearl River County $200,000, and thirdly, I will begin to run the jail like a prison and not like a vacation beach resort which will also save citizens of Pearl River County valuable tax dollars. As your sheriff, I will lead from the front but I will also work beside the dedicated men and women at the Sheriff’s Department. We will become a crime fighting team that will work everyday to eliminate crime and illegal drug trafficking in Pearl River County. We will achieve this goal without ever having to raise property taxes to get it done. Pearl River County will be the safest and most desired place in Mississippi to raise a family, start a business, or just retire and enjoy country life in our beautiful state.

As sheriff of Pearl River County, I will guarantee to every citizen that I, and the members of the Sheriff’s Department will protect and serve all citizens in Pearl River County. Together we will protect and serve everyone from the most historical and original people with deep roots in Pearl River County to serving and protecting the most newly and recently established families, this includes people of all races, young or old, rich or poor, everyone will be treated the same. It was the way I was raised and it’s the right thing to do.

As a resident and tax payer of Pearl River County you pay for professional law enforcement services and you deserve professional law enforcement services. It is the duty and responsibility of the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department to deliver the best law enforcement service available, and it needs to be delivered professionally and promptly at all times. All citizens will be treated with dignity and respect.

My law enforcementexperience includes working as a police officer, field training officer, detective, criminal investigator, rndercover vice crimes, SWAT officer, violent crimes task force officer, police sergeant, police lieutenantc asst. platoon commander, platoon commander, asst. district commander/unit commander, and COPS district commander.

My training and education includes New Orleans Police Academy, US Secret Service Protective Custody School, US Drug Enforcement Narcotic Trafficking Identification School, Federal Bureau of Investigation Anti-Terrorism School, New Orleans Police Department SWAT team member, New Orleans Police Department Sergeant/Supervisor Schol, New Orleans Police Department Police Lieutenant/Administrative and Personnel Management Training School, New Orleans Police Department Field Training Officer School, University of New Orleans “Train the Trainer” Supervisor School, Southern Institute of Forensic School relating to homicide investigations, sex crimes Investigations, child abuse investigations, arson investigations, crime scene investigations, satanic cult investigations, US Marine Corps NCO leadership school, Regional Counter Narcotics Training Agency, Asian organized crime/criminal investigations, Southern Regional Public Safety Institute Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Certification School.

Career highlights include special security assignments for the 1987 Pope John Paul II visit to New Orleans, special presidential security assignment for President Ronald Reagan, President George H. Bush and many other foreign and domestic diplomats; commander of police operations for 2003 French Quarter Mardi Gras event, featured on the TV show “Cops”, and commander – 2005 Hurricane Katrina anti-looting unit.

I have been married to my lovely wife, Mary Ann, for 30 years. We also have two college graduate sons. Our family extends from Bay St. Louis to McComb, Miss. and New Orleans, La. I thank the Lord daily for steering me back to Mississippi, my heart has always yearned for the country way of life. I feel privileged to call Pearl River County home. As sheriff I will work hard to preserve the landscape of our beautiful state and fight diligently to prevent criminals and drug dealers from changing it.

Graduate of Chalmette Senior High School. Attended Delgado Junior College, Tulane University, University of New Orleans, Upper Iowa University, received a degree in Criminal Justice.

As a military veteran, I received honorable discharges from the US Army and the US Navy Special Boat Unit 22.

I am a proud member and supporter of the National Rifle Association.

I support numerous charities such as St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Breast Cancer Awareness, Paralyzed American Veterans, Wounded Warrior Project and the ASPCA.

For a more complete description of my plan to make Pearl River County safe, please visit our website at www.FrankVaccForSheriff.com.