Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 1, 1995 TAG: 9504030037
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Was he making a bust? Apprehending a suspect?
No, Brown said. He was teaching a class at the Roanoke Police Academy and he slipped on ice outside, damaging a nerve in his shoulder.
The accident that occurred more than a decade ago left him with tingling in his fingers, Brown said.
Because his job with the ATF involved working with explosives, he couldn't perform his duties, he said. Brown was discharged with a disability pension.
``It's all minor stuff,'' he said. ``But when you get tingling in the fingers, it's not a good idea to handle explosives.''
Because the sheriff's job is mainly an administrative post, Brown said, he doesn't believe his disability would preclude him from performing the duties of sheriff. Also, he added, the state code has no physical fitness requirements for sheriff.
``I could have a right arm gone and it probably wouldn't be a problem,'' Brown said.
Bubby Moser, deputy executive director of the National Sheriffs' Association, said state requirements for sheriffs vary widely across the nation. Some states have no requirements, and others ask that sheriffs have specialized law enforcement training or a college education.
``Administration is part of it,'' Moser said. ``But as sheriff, you have to be the leader of the gang, to be able to carry out the law enforcement part, too.''
Brown's opponent, Doug Maynard, said he wouldn't comment about Brown's fitness for office, but said, ``I think a person running for sheriff is going to be an administrator and do the law enforcement.
``In an area like Bedford, with a smaller sheriff's department and fewer deputies, you're going to have to do some law enforcement'' as sheriff.
Brown, who's seeking the Republican nomination, said he was tired of political backbiting and enemies who publicize facts about him that he said really weren't campaign issues.
Last week, Brown settled the issue of his residency in Bedford County after several anonymous callers told the county registrar that Brown wasn't living in the county. The registrar ruled that Brown is a legal resident and eligible to run for sheriff.
Brown lived in Botetourt County for almost 20 years before he rented an apartment in Bedford County in January, about one month before he declared his candidacy. Brown's family still lives in Botetourt, but he said they're planning to move to Bedford County.
``I just wish we'd get into the issues of the campaign, and people would stop all these anonymous callings,'' Brown said.''
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB