Nathan on:

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One of the basic services that county government is charged with is to protect our citizens. Effective law enforcement, emergency medical services, fire fighting and prevention, and emergency management are something that simply cannot be compromised.

There are fewer times I've been more proud of our county than when we pull together in times of adversity. Whether it's the floods of 2004 or the Beacon Mill fire, our emergency services personnel --- from all departments throughout the county --- go the extra mile to help our citizens through these difficult times. They are true heroes and they deserve our gratitude, our respect, and our support.

Emergency Medical Services

My family knows first-hand how professional emergency medical services can save lives. Just this past year, my mother-in-law (who is in her eighties) started to feel very sick to her stomach. Fortunately, before she collapsed, she called 911...and within minutes, the Asheville Fire Department and Buncombe County EMS arrived at her West Asheville home. Just 45 minutes after she first called 911, she was at Mission Hospital, safe and receiving a cardiac catherization. My wife Robin and I thank God every day for the good people who saved her life.

As Chairman, I have worked to make sure the county pays our EMS personnel competitively, so there will be a qualified paramedic and EMT staffing our EMS trucks around the clock, seven days a week. As result of those efforts, we are almost fully staffed for the first time in several years.

Sheriff's Department

I have been a strong advocate for more patrol deputies out in the county to reduce response times for the Buncombe County Sheriff's Department. The county hasn't added patrol officers in almost 20 years despite the growth of the county's population.

These officers place their lives on the line for us each day, and it's our responsibility to make sure that they have the training, equipment, and support they deserve. I will always honor their sacrifices and I will never forget the fine men and women who have paid the ultimate price to serve and protect our people.

Fire and Rescue

Fire and rescue services are provided throughout the county by our municipal and volunteer fire departments. I'll continue to support these departments, without reservation, with the resources they need to serve our community.

Because of the dedication of our firefighters, we are blessed with some of the best departments in the state. I'll continue to work to see that they have the best facilities, equipment, and training so that all communities throughout the county from our towns to the most rural areas can be more safe.

Jail Expansion

As Chairman, I've also led the rcent expansion of our county jail (properly called the Buncombe County Detention center), which first opened in 1996, so we can all be more safe from those who prey on our community. But building more jails is not the only or even the optimal way to address crime; it's merely an expensive after-the-fact solution. And most importantly, it fails to recognize the talents of all of God's children and their hope for a redemptive second chance.

I have supported various initiatives which help to ensure that those who suffer from debilitating mental illnesses receive effective treatment: our jails shouldn't be a place we warehouse those with mental health issues.

I've worked to improve the mental health services available in our jails, and I've tried to see to it that our law enforcement officers are being trained with Crisis Intervention Teams to better assist those who have special needs of this nature. We have a long way to go, and I will continue the fight to keep violent criminals off the street while helping the most vulnerable among us to remain productive citizens with some degree of dignity and hope.

Safety in our Schools

Before our children can begin to learn, they must be safe at school. I have worked with our school systems to make sure that all of our seven high schools and eight middle schools have a dedicated school resource officer. Our SROs build strong relationships with the students, teachers, administrators, and parents. We are blessed to have passionate officers who care about our children. This is not just a job for these folks but the highest of callings.

The first defense against gangs, drugs, and violence for our young people is a caring family, but the second-line of defense is our school personnel, including these school resource officers. As Chairman, I've supported the Sheriff's partnership with the Eblen Foundation to establish the On Track program, which reaches rising 8th and 9th graders who need a helping hand. Our community needs to do more to save kids from the dangers they face in this increasingly destructive society, and as the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That couldn't be more true when talking about our kids.

Training and Consolidation

This past year, the county has begun establishing a joint training facility for all of our police officers, sheriff's deputies, fire, and emergency services personnel. This $20 million public safety training facility will be operated by A-B Tech and will guarantee that all the necessary training can be completed here --- instead of requiring our folks to drive across the state. There will be a driving track, burn buildings, classrooms, and other structures available on one consolidated site.

I'm proud of my involvement with the consolidation of our 911/dispatch systems with the City of Asheville. Now, Buncombe County Sheriff's Department, our Emergency Medical Systems, and the Asheville Police and Fire Department dispatchers will be in the same center with the 911 operators. This will save time, use resources more efficiently, and provide better coordination between departments --- all of which will lead to saved lives.