Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Not Letting Up On Crime, Sheriff Says

Three men ran for the post of Nevada County Sheriff in the May 21 primary.

One candidate was soundly defeated, but threw the other two into a runoff held June 11.

When the smoke cleared from the runoff, the incumbent had been ousted in favor of a first time candidate.

Harold Vines, current sheriff, will be looking for other employment once his term ends Dec. 31, 1996.

The next day, Jan. 1, 1997, either Steve Otwell or Johnny Campbell will assume the office as Nevada County's new sheriff.

Otwell said he is pleased with the results and plans on trying to in November's general election. Campbell is seeking the post as an independent candidate.

"I want to thank all of the people who came out and voted for me and Mr. Vines (in the runoff election)," Otwell said, "and petition those who voted for Mr. Vines to vote for me in November."

Otwell said he has no idea who he will hire to be the chief deputy and secretary at the sheriff's office, if elected in November. "I have no other changes in mind for the office," he said. "I don't have time to worry about that now. It's not my intent to clean house."

Otwell said he's contacted as many officers as possible currently with the Nevada County Sheriff's Office letting them know he has no desire to get rid of them.

In addition, he plans on taking classes whenever possible to further his education in the area of law enforcement.

Vines was disappointed with the election results. "I think people were misled by rumors," he said.

"We lost. I gave the county 18 months of work. We seemed to make a change.

"I feel bad for the people who supported me, but I'll be sheriff until the end of the year. Then, I'll move on."

Vines said there will be no let up for criminals and those who violate the law in Nevada County while he's in office. He plans to keep kicking in the doors of drug dealers and bootleggers until Dec. 31.

"I thought we did a good job," he said. "We tried. It (the department) was in a mess when we took over.

"The last two secretaries were charged with stealing. It took a long time to get things straightened out. We had it all running smooth and had a good crew. It's a good department.

"But the people made the change. We ran a good clean race."

Vines declined to say if he would support either candidate in the November election, and hasn't spoken to Campbell yet.

Though leaving office at the end of this year, Vines said the department will not be left in the same kind of shape it was in when he took over.

He plans on spending more time with his family, now that the election is over for him. "This has been a tremendous ordeal for my family to go through," he said.

On the other hand, Vines expressed concern for the department and the people of Nevada County. "I think a lot of the county and its people. I feel they were misled (during the campaign).

"I did nothing to be ashamed of. I did my best. We'll come out of this better, stronger. We'll land on our feet."

In the meantime, though, the race for Nevada County Sheriff continues between Otwell and Campbell, with the outcome to be decided Nov. 5.