Gerald Baker, candidate for Wake County Sheriff
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Candidates for Wake County Sheriff
Candidates in the race for Wake County sheriff include the incumbent, Democrat Gerald Baker; Democratic challengers Joe Coley, Cedric Herring, Tommy Matthews, Willie Rowe, Roy Taylor and Randolph Baity; and Republicans Donnie Harrison, Tivon Howard and David Blackwelder. Get to know the candidates in our 2022 Voter Guide.
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Name: Gerald M. Baker
Age: 60
Political party: Democrat
Campaign website: WakeForBaker2022.com
Occupation and employer: Wake County sheriff
Education: BS organization management
Have you run for elected office before? Elected Wake County Sheriff in 2018.
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: I am an active member of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association. I am a member of the National Sheriffs’ Association. I am a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. I am a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. I am a member of the Wake County Democratic Men’s Club.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? N/A
What are three things you want to accomplish in the next year, and how do you plan to accomplish them?
▪ Budget cuts: Wake County Sheriff’s Office has received $2,253,366.00 in grants since I have been sheriff. Finding alternative funding sources has been a top priority of mine, in order to be able to purchase the needed equipment to protect and serve Wake County during this challenging time.
▪ If reelected, in order to reduce the number of vacancies, and limit the negative effects of staffing shortages such as low morale and burnout — I will continue to be proactive in recruiting. I will continue to support and encourage both hiring and retention incentives, as well as increased pay for county employees.
▪ Growing population: My goal as sheriff is to keep Wake County safe, while keeping the same level of quality service delivery and maintaining a low crime rate as we grow in population.
What about your experience makes you the best person to be Wake County’s next sheriff?
Since my first day in office, integrity, transparency, consistency and accountability have all played a significant role in how I have managed, and will continue to manage this office if reelected. I recognized the immediate need for structure and began reorganization. That structure and my leadership has restored the integrity and accountability this office lacked as a direct result of the leadership that was present prior to me being elected in 2018.
Under my leadership, persons employed within your entire Sheriff’s Office, sworn and unsworn, will continue to be held accountable for their actions and performance when those actions and performance are unlawful, immoral, and less than Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and expectation. Complaints to this office are now fully and impartially examined. Disciplinary actions are consistent regardless of race, nationality or gender, and will always be a direct result of the matter at hand.
What does the current administration do well? In what areas does the Sheriff’s Office need to improve?
I am the only candidate who has proven to be a conscientious steward over taxpayers’ dollars and this office’s fiscal operating budgets. Under my administration this office has been fiscally sound since I was elected in 2018. As sheriff, I reestablished The Wake County Sheriff’s Office Academic Studies Program offering 16 new academic classes which has created opportunities to learn trades and continue education efforts toward obtaining a GED for residents court-ordered to our jail pending prosecution or sentence.
As sheriff, I implemented an operative Community Relations and Crime Prevention Division that is now active throughout the entire county with bold, new leadership aimed at deterring our young people away from lives of trouble and crime. These units are committed to enhancing our service to the community by striving to maintain a positive relationship between the citizens in our community and its deputies.
How will you attract and retain deputies?
Now more than ever during the pandemic, law enforcement officers are risking their lives to keep our communities safe, and those struggles are made even more difficult by staffing shortages. Most law enforcement agencies across the nation are facing a crisis in our ability to recruit new officers, and to hold on to the ones we have.
For more than a year, we have been experiencing staffing shortages, and the issues that are caused by multiple vacancies. In order to reduce the number of vacancies, and limit the negative effects of staffing shortages such as low morale and burnout. I will continue to be proactive in recruiting. I will continue to support and encourage both hiring and retention incentives, as well as increased pay for Sheriff’s Office members.
Do you support the use of no-knock raids? Why or why not?
No. (with discussion)
Do you support the use of body-worn cameras for deputies?
Yes. The Wake County Sheriff’s Office implemented a new Body-Worn Camera Program, and there is significant training involved with the use of the hardware. But there is also training on how to distribute and review footage in the case of an incident. Maintaining transparency and accountability will be a top priority. Successful training will ensure this agency has the knowledge and tools in order to use this equipment properly.
Under what circumstances and timelines do you support the release of body-camera footage? For example, do you support video release when requested? Only for serious or fatal incidents? Within 48 hours of the incident or only after the investigation is complete?
I support basing release as pertains to the circumstances and as it pertains to investigation integrity. Transparency is of the upmost.
What is your definition of transparency, and how do you plan to apply that to your office?
I believe it starts by leading with openness, honesty and fairness, promoting open lines of communication with organization.
What role does the Sheriff’s Office play in stemming violent crime, and how do you plan to approach that role?
If given the opportunity to serve as sheriff of Wake County again, I will assure this office continues to provide consistent high levels of service in every division such our Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Drugs and Special Operations to keep this county safe from violence. I will continue to ensure the members of this office strive to offer the highest standard of customer service always, without hesitation, for all residents and visitors of the County of Wake.
How will you ensure that people of color and people who are poor are treated fairly?
I pledge and commitment from being elected in 2018 was to make certain that our office serves every person and and every community in this county regardless of color, race, gender, or life choice. Equally, will treat every person the same according to the law and professional and ethical standards.
If elected, will you honor Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers? Participate in the 287 (g) program?
No.
How do you plan to prevent deputies from using excessive force? How will your office handle cases involving excessive use of force?
Training, Standard Operating Procedures, Accountability, and Transparency.
Do you support an independent review board? Under your administration, what would that board look like?
N/A
This story was originally published April 23, 2022 at 3:02 PM.
