Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Vines seeks position as Nevada County Sheriff

Harold Vines has announced that he is seeking election as the Nevada County Sheriff. Vines may be familiar to some because he held the office in 1995-96.

We did a good job while we were in the sheriffs office, he said.

Vines has a background in law enforcement. He said he spent 10 years as an officer in Texarkana where he retired as Sergeant. He also worked for the Arkansas State Highway Patrol. He retired as a Corporal with that agency to run for Nevada County Sheriff. Vines has also worked at Gildner Ford and Hope Auto but said he is now fully retired and hopes to focus his full attention on the sheriffs position.

We need change, Vines said. I believe Nevada County needs a change. I believe the people in Nevada County are entitled to the best law enforcement possible out of the sheriffs department. Ill be a full time sheriff.

Vines said he believes he is qualified for the administrative duties that are an integral part of the sheriffs office. He said the key is to have good people to help.

You have to surround yourself with good people, Vines said.

While Vines was sheriff, We had a perfect audit  the first theyd had in a long time. He said he worked hard to correct problems that existed when he took over the position.

Another point Vines made is that he used prisoners for work around the county while he was sheriff, a practice he said hes anxious to put into place again.

Those in for minor offenses, he said. He said the plan is to offer those prisoners who want to work at picking up trash along the county roads and other similar tasks a shorter sentence.

Vines cited drugs as the biggest issue faced by Nevada County. He cited 15 search warrants that were executed during his tenure as county sheriff. He said there were two homicides during those years and that officers made arrests in both cases on the day of the murders.

If Im elected, we will again start in on the drugs, Vines said. Ill need the help of the people of the county.

Vines admits that the drug problem is complex.

Theres no magic solution, he said. And nearly all the crime will relate back to drugs. Its not just Nevada County. Its the whole area.

He said that simply busting drug dealers and users is only part of the answer to this problem.

We need to work with children, he said. Education starts there.

Vines has had many hours of law enforcement training and has spent years on the job. But he said moral values are among his strongest points, and what makes him the best choice for county sheriff.

I was taught to treat people like I wanted to be treated, he said. That has taken me a long way toward my law enforcement career.

Vines said hes not certain of other changes he expects to implement, if hes elected. He said he does believe that he can work well with those currently on staff with the sheriffs department as well as other law enforcement agencies.

I know them, he said. I worked good with them before and I will this time.

The jail, according to Vines, is about to become an even more important issue.

Well have to look at federal grants or anything we can to solve this, he said.

While there have been discussions about farming out prisoners to other counties, Vines said he doesnt see this as a long-term solution for several reasons. He said not only will the county pay for housing those prisoners in other counties, but there will also be the added expense of transporting prisoners back and forth to the jail for court appearances. That costs money for gas but also increases wear and tear on the countys vehicles.

Its just too expensive, he said.

Vines said he would open the doors to the public, making reports available as required by law. Open cases or the safety of someone would be the only case when they wouldnt be available, Vines said.

Vines said he plans to make the sheriffs department his full time job, if elected.

I have no other side lines or interests, he said.

Asked to sum up the reason hed make a good sheriff, Vines said, My experience, my training and my desire to see that Nevada County has the best law enforcement possible.