PRINCE EDWARD — Dale A. Vaughan has announced a bid as an independent candidate for Prince Edward County sheriff in the November election.

Vaughan, the son of the Rev. James A. and Clytie Allen of Prospect, is a life-long resident of Prospect.

Vaughan has more than 25 years of experience in law enforcement. In 1989, he became a corrections officer at Buckingham Correctional Center, where he received the service award for going above and beyond the call of duty, saving many lives in a Dec. 26,1996, riot at the facility. Vaughan continued his career, working at the Dillwyn Correctional Center, Nottoway Work Center, where he became assistant to the watch commander, and the Nottoway Correctional Center in the main compound. He also worked as a part-time deputy for about seven years.

After his career in the Department of Corrections, he accepted employment under then-Prince Edward Sheriff Travis D. Harris as a deputy. Vaughan led the county in traffic summonses during the Click It or Ticket campaign and while working selective enforcement. He also led the county for five years in DUI enforcement while working patrol through the county.

As a deputy, Vaughan said he used all resources to aid in the performance of his job. He worked closely with all local agencies, including Longwood University Police, Farmville Police Hampden-Sydney Police, Virginia Game commissions, ABC Office, and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Vaughan says he handles every situation as if it involved his family: with respect, integrity and character.

The candidate cites that he saved the life of an infant who was unconscious by rendering first aid; talked a veteran out of committing suicide and helped him receive his benefits through the Veterans Administration; and made countless felony arrests, including one person on America’s Most Wanted and an escaped inmate from Georgia.

Vaughan says his goals are to improve the police/community relationship through active community interaction, to respect all citizens and act on all complaints in writing or verbally in a timely manner, to strengthen the working relationship with all law enforcement agencies and departments on the state and local level, and to hold those wearing a badge for the county responsible for upholding their obligations to the county and its citizens.

He said he wants to create a better work environment, give the department a facelift, bring staff up to speed on technology and to be supportive, give them someone who would let them do their jobs, to be fair and bring them “back into a perspective with the community that they can be respected. I want to re-establish that public trust.”

Vaughan also said he wants to increase visibility, to be proactive instead of reactive.

“…Police officers are nothing more than public servants. You’re here to serve the public and if you can’t be the best public servant that you’re sworn to be, you’re just defeating the purpose,” he said.

Vaughan said he is an active parent, attending his children’s ball games and other activities.