A Sheriff for All,

The Sheriff for Tomorrow

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Meet David

I am a lifelong public servant with over 20 years of experience in law enforcement and criminal justice reform. Inspired by a sense of duty after 9/11, I joined the Durham County Sheriff’s Office in 2003, serving in diverse roles including patrol, narcotics, and the FBI Safe Streets Taskforce.

After a career-ending injury in 2016, I returned to the Sheriff’s Office in a civilian executive role, where I led strategic planning, budgeting, and major reform efforts focused on equity, accountability, and public safety. I helped expand jail-based mental health and addiction services, implemented real-time gun permit background checks, and became a vocal opponent of discriminatory practices like ICE detainers and dragnet traffic enforcement.

I believe true public safety begins with prevention, not punishment. I support alternatives to policing for mental health calls, investment in data-driven strategies, and strong community partnerships. Now, I’m running for Orange County Sheriff to bring compassionate, transparent, and justice-focused leadership to the office.

A Progressive Vision

  • Strategic Policing

    It’s simple, I advocate for a data-informed, locally driven approach to policing that avoids discriminatory practices.

  • Community-Based Public Safety

    I believe true public safety begins with prevention and intervention, not just reaction. Which is why we must invest in community programs that address root causes of crime—poverty, mental health, and substance use.

  • Accountability and Transparency

    Transparency is key to restoring legitimacy in our law enforcement. Creating a third-party independent oversight committee to increase community trust is one of many things I would do to hold law enforcement accountable to the people they serve.

  • Modern Alternatives for Arrests

    Non-violent calls should be met with a non-law enforcement response. Situations involving mental health are better served by trained crisis professionals than armed officers.