Priorities

Sean understands the important role the Sheriff's Office has in our community and the responsibility that comes with being Sheriff. Since joining the Office in 2017, Sean has developed a solid working knowledge of the Office’s functions and areas of importance. This knowledge and experience has shaped Sean’s priorities for the Sheriff’s Office. Please see below for more information about Sean's experience in critical areas of the Office and how he will sustain and expand them as Sheriff.

Deputy Training and Education

The foundation for any law enforcement agency is its training and education curriculum.  Deputies who are provided relevant and cutting-edge training, that is effectively reinforced, will provide a high level of service to the community and instances of misconduct will be minimized. Sean understands this, and that is why he has brought implicit bias training, autism awareness education, and active bystandership for law enforcement to the Office.  Sean has ensured use of force and de-escalation training occurs together and frequently for all sworn staff. Sean believes strongly in Crisis Intervention Training that aims to reduce the risk of serious injury or death during an emergency interaction between persons with mental illness and law enforcement, and as Sheriff, he will strive to provide this training to all his staff. Sean will provide more relevant cultural diversity education for the Office. Lastly, Sean will afford more in-house and external leadership training opportunities to develop the future leaders of the Office.     

Diversity

The Sheriff’s Office is one of the most diverse workforces in the City. The staff is truly representative of the incredibly diverse community it serves. Sean believes that is one of the Office’s greatest assets. Sean knows that to lead such a diverse agency, you must be a culturally competent leader and that is why he is a steering committee member of the Office’s “Let’s Talk Diversity” group. Sean also appointed the Office’s Chief Fiscal Office as an “equity leader” in the City’s “Race and Social Equity Commitment” program. As Sheriff, Sean is committed to continuing to embrace diversity and ensuring equity at all levels of the organization and in the Office’s practices. Sean plans to develop and implement a framework that ensures Office decisions and practices advance race and social equity for all its employees and those that we serve. Sean will achieve this by developing a racial equity action plan for the Office, with the assistance of internal and external stakeholders. As Sheriff, Sean will make sure that the diversity of the Office continues to be valued and protected.

Accreditation

Sean believes strongly in the accreditation process for all law enforcement agencies.  He has supervised the accreditation process at the Sheriff’s Office, seeing firsthand how rigorous it is and how it provides a high level of accountability and pride for the Office.  The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections, and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care.  The Sheriff’s Office is one of fewer than 50 agencies in the country to hold this Triple Crown accreditation.  As Sheriff, Sean will maintain the Triple Crown accreditation for the Sheriff’s Office. 

Technology

Sean understands that technology, when used properly, can improve safety, security, and accountability for staff, inmates and the public. Since joining the Office, Sean has implemented new internal investigations and employment management technology that has helped identify and address patterns of employee misconduct when they first develop, preventing serious misconduct from occurring later.  Sean modified a paper-based policy management system to a new internet-based platform.  Sean has also brought new technology to the inmate population.  He created video visitation policies and procedures for inmate social and attorney-client visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Sean is also currently helping the Office implement a new computer tablet program for the inmate population that will provide new programing, rehabilitation, and social recreation opportunities for inmates.  As Sheriff, Sean will continue to use technology to help improve Office operations and inmate rehabilitation.  

Fiscal Management

As the Captain of the Administrative Services Division, Sean is directly responsible for the management of the Sheriff’s Office $32 million budget, which is composed of federal, state, and local monies.  Sean also oversees the management of the inmate profit accounts for the Office.  Sean’s significant involvement with the budget development and implementation process has provided him detailed knowledge of the Office’s fiscal processes.  Sean has also received comprehensive guidance from Sheriff Lawhorne on how to advocate fiscally for the Office, at the local, state, and federal level.  As your Sheriff, Sean will use this experience and knowledge, to ensure the Office remains fiscally responsible.

Employee Advocacy

Sean is a staunch employee advocate.  As a former union president, co-chair of the ADC Labor Caucus, and leader at the Sheriff’s Office, Sean has the utmost respect and admiration for the over 200 employees of the Office.  Since joining the Office, Sean helped Sheriff Lawhorne negotiate a 25-year retirement, secure pay raises, and modified leave policies allowing employees the opportunity for more paid time off, without impacting staffing.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sean has ensured that all employees have access to high levels of personal protective equipment, free COVID-19 testing, and COVID-19 vaccines.  Sean is also helping to develop a peer support team that will allow employees a confidential place to discuss work and personal stressors that are affecting them.  In addition, Sean is exploring starting an employee wellness program at the Office. As Sheriff, Sean will continue these employee advocacy efforts, with a strong focus on employee wellness, and sustaining impartial supervision at all levels of the organization.  

Leadership

Sean believes in being a visible and accessible leader who has compassion and empathy for employees.  He believes strongly that employees need to be heard and that is why he will continue the Sheriff’s “open-door” policy.  Sean will continue weekly meetings with senior staff, facilitate monthly meetings between management and line-staff, and meet directly with employees regularly.  Sean will also maintain all of the different employee rewards programs at the Office, such as employee of the quarter and the annual employee awards. Sean is an active supporter of employees having a voice on all issues; and that is why he is a steering committee member of the Office’s “Let’s Talk Diversity” group and a member of the Alexandria Sheriff’s Association. Sean will also strive to increase the already diverse management team by continuing to promote leaders within the Office as Sheriff Lawhorne has done for 16 years.

Inmate Care, Wellness, and Rehabilitation

Inmate safety is imperative and that has not changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Sean has made it a priority for inmates to receive education and updates about the pandemic, the proper personal protective equipment, quick and efficient COVID-19 testing, single cells for medically vulnerable inmates, 60 minutes of free phone calls each week, and access to the COVID-19 vaccine.  Sean has also worked closely with Inmate Services staff to provide inmates additional personal items and money into their accounts to help them cope with the added stress of the pandemic.  As Sheriff, Sean will continue to advocate for inmate health and safety, as he has done during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Sean believes that every inmate should have the ability to better themselves while they are incarcerated even during a pandemic.  For example, Sean has worked to help allow virtual programs such as, Life Learning, Life Skills, GED, and ESL to be delivered to inmates.  As Sheriff, Sean will make efforts to increase inmate participation in these programs with new technologies, like individual computer tablets. Sean will continue the Sheriff’s message of sobriety, education, and transition by sustaining the Sober Living Unit and other substance abuse addiction programs.  In addition, Sean will ask our community to help start a combined vocational and work release program.

Sean feels strongly that inmates should be treated with respect and dignity.  That is why he will continue the direct supervision model of inmate supervision because it allows for staff to provide clear expectations and enforce fair rules and regulations, while allowing for the proper redress of grievances. 

Facility Security and Maintenance

The Alexandria jail has a world renown reputation for being a safe, secure, and humane facility that is constantly housing high-profile inmates such as Paul Manafort, Chelsea Manning, Russian spy Maria Butina, and Benghazi mastermind Ahmed Abu Khatallah.  The safety of the jail is driven by outstanding staff and a well-maintained facility.  Sean has been a part of building this reputation by overseeing several million-dollar facility projects, such as a $3.1 million security system upgrade for the jail, Public Safety Center complex and courthouse, and he currently serves as the executive officer for the development, selection, and implementation of a $2 million jail management system.  As Sheriff, Sean will ensure the facility remains safe and secure by remaining involved in these and other important projects, such as a multimillion dollar jail kitchen renovation and the Public Safety Center feasibility study. 

Community Engagement

 As a lifelong Alexandrian, Sean knows the importance of building productive and sustainable partnerships with law enforcement.  When Sean arrived at the Office, their relationship with the community was excellent, so he built on it by starting the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office Community Academy and the Sheriff’s Office Elementary School Liaison Program.  As Sheriff, Sean will sustain well established community assistance programs like, “Operation Elf” the Office’s annual toy drive for inmates’ children, “Meals on Wheels” for seniors, ALIVE! food drives, and Drug Take Back.  Sean will continue the Office’s community outreach efforts by expanding the Civic Association Liaison Program and promoting youth mentoring and tutoring opportunities.  Sean will maintain important community partnerships with organizations such as Alexandria City Public Schools, Casa Chirilagua, and the City’s Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities department, and Senior Services of Alexandria. As Sheriff, Sean will remain transparent, responsible, and accountable to the community as well.   

Recruitment

While Sean has overseen recruitment at the Office, it has remained an extremely diverse workforce. This will not change when Sean is Sheriff. Sean will continually review the hiring process, as he has already done, to ensure that is culturally equitable and fair.  Sean will also continue to ensure thorough background and psychological examinations are completed on all potential applicants to identify unfit individuals.  Sean also knows the value of recruiting within our community.  As Sheriff, he will make this a priority. Sean will expand community partnerships, especially with the public high school, to create a pathway for graduating seniors to have a career in criminal justice at the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office.  Sean will seek funding to re-start the once successful Alexandria Sheriff’s Office Cadet Program, that allowed 18 year olds to begin a career at the Sheriff’s Office.  Sean will examine starting internships for students taking criminal justice classes at the local universities and community colleges as well.  

Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Reform

Sean welcomes the many reforms the criminal justice system and law enforcement are currently undergoing.  After the horrible murder of George Floyd, Sean was appointed by the Sheriff to an advisory group comprised of Sheriff’s Office employees and community leaders to reshape and reinvent the Office’s use of force policies and procedures.  The group developed reforms which are outlined here in a document Sean helped create: Where We Stand.  Sean is also a steering committee member for the Office’s, “Let's Talk Diversity Group,” which helps address the complicated relationship between law enforcement and the minority communities.  Sean also secured the Office’s acceptance into the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project, which is Georgetown University Law Center’s national training and support initiative for U.S. law enforcement agencies committed to building a culture of peer intervention that prevents harm.  The Sheriff’s Office was only one of 34 other law enforcement agencies and training academies chosen to participate in the ABLE Project’s national rollout.  In addition, Sean has participated in the Equal Access to Justice Initiative from the Virginia Courts. These types of initiatives will continue and expand with Sean as Sheriff. 

As Sheriff, Sean is looking forward to advocating for criminal justice reforms as well.  Sean will raise awareness about mental illness and incarceration.  He will look to work with community partners to help offer alternatives to incarceration for people with mental illness who commit low-level offenses.  Sean will make sure the Sheriff’s Office remains a committed partner to the Alexandria Treatment Court, which is an alternative to jail for people  with significant substance use disorders who are accused of nonviolent felonies, the City’s Opioid Working Group, the Community Services Board, and the Community Criminal Justice Board.  Sean will fight mass incarceration by working with his judicial and legislative partners to ensure that the jail population remains low and manageable.