Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Vines Wants To Keep Protecting County Residents

Making sure the people of Nevada County are protected is keeping incumbent Nevada County Sheriff Harold Vines busy these days.

In fact, he said protecting the people is taking so much time he is not able to go door-to-door and campaign this term.

However, Vines said he hopes the people will look at his record when they go to the polls May 21 and elect him to a second term as their sheriff.

Vines brings almost 30 years of law enforcement experience to the job of sheriff. He spent 17 1/2 years with the Arkansas Highway Police, 10 years with the Texarkana Police Department, and has 18 months as NCSO sheriff.

He has also attained four of the five levels of law enforcement certification. "I'm proud of these achievements," he said.

Since taking office in 1994, Vines has added a deputy through the federal COPS program. In addition, Vines worked to acquire a drug dog (Narco), who, he said, has been a big help to the department.

The NCSO, through Vines' efforts, will soon receive an Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) terminal. This will speed up traffic stops and make these stops safer for the officer involved.

An Explorer Post program has also started under Vines' leadership. Currently, 10 members are involved in this law enforcement "club." Hopefully, he said, this organization will help young people get interested in law enforcement, and possibly choose a career in the field.

Additionally, Vines has helped save the county more than $64,000. This was done by combining the city and county dispatching forces, eliminating a part-time cook slot at the NCSO, using 309 prisoners instead, and collecting on old warrants.

According to Vines, the department collected more than $7,000 from old warrants in a month by sending the violators a letter stating they would be arrested if they didn't pay their fines. The form letter also stated they would lose their driver's license if they didn't pay up.

But his proudest accomplishment is successfully completing 15 warranted drug raids. These raids, he said, were begun by the NCSO, but had the help of the Prescott Police Department, Arkansas Highway Police, Arkansas State Police, Hempstead County Sheriff's Office and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

In all 15 raids, officers, using information collected by the NCSO, found either illegal drugs, or more alcohol than is allowed in a dry county. "We've confiscated drugs, alcohol, cash, weapons and electronic items from the suspects," he said.

Vines said he worked to install a rank system with the reserve officers. Now, he said, this auxiliary branch of officers provides a service which the county wouldn't have otherwise.

"I knew when we too over the drug problem was the biggest thing we'd have to deal with," Vines said. "But now people trust us. They're coming forward with information."

During his tenure there has been one murder. However, the NCSO had a suspect in custody before the body was found. This man is currently serving a 40-year sentence in the Arkansas Department of Correction for his crime.

An arrest was also made in the double-murder of Jeff Lewis and Malissa Clark.

Vines was born and raised in Nevada County, in the Bodcaw area. He is also recently married.

Vines is active in the Arkansas Sheriff's Association, the National Sheriff's Association, the Prescott Kiwanis Club and Union Baptist Church in Bodcaw.

He is a graduate of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy in Camden, with more than 2,500 hours of law enforcement training to his credit.

"We (the NCSO) put in a lot of hours," he said, "but I like it. I work like any deputy and enjoy working with the men.

"When I took office, I put a team of officers together. Now, we have one of the finest teams ever in the county," he continued. "They are all dedicated officers who work until the job is done without complaint."

Vines said he can't do a door-to-door campaign this election year because there is still so much work to be done.

He said making sure county residents are protected and have proper law enforcement is more important than knocking on doors and asking for votes.

"I'll keep doing my job," he said. "I'll be at all the rallies and functions I can. I enjoy meeting people and talking to them, but my obligation is to take care of the NCSO."

Vines said he doesn't think he has the sheriff's race sewn up, and isn't being cocky by not knocking on doors. In light of a weekend rape, however, he feels it is more important to solve crimes and protect the citizenry.

"I'm working to protect the citizens," he said.

When he is able to campaign, Vines uses his personal pickup truck and not county vehicles.

"I hope the people will support me and my men," he said. "I want to keep doing what we're doing -- fighting drugs."