Elect J.D. Slape for Sheriff of Catawba County
“A Sheriff for All”
My nearly 25 years of experience across every division of a sheriff’s office—combined with a lifetime of perseverance, service, and leadership—uniquely qualify me to serve as Sheriff. I understand firsthand how each unit operates, how they depend on one another, and what deputies need to succeed. This depth of operational knowledge is not something that can be taught in a classroom; it comes only from decades of real work in the field, the jail, the courts, the schools, on the road, and within the community.
My personal life has strengthened my professional abilities. Supporting a family through significant medical challenges has taught me patience, empathy, resilience, and the importance of standing strong when the pressure is highest. These qualities translate directly into leadership—leading with compassion, making steady decisions in crisis, and ensuring that no one under my command feels unheard or unsupported.
As a deputy, I have always believed in treating people with fairness, dignity, and respect—whether they are victims, suspects, coworkers, or community members. As Sheriff, I would continue that approach by promoting transparency, accountability, proactive community engagement, and strong relationships with schools, churches, civic organizations, and local leaders.
I believe a Sheriff must be visible, accessible, and involved—someone who sets the example, not just gives orders. With my proven work ethic, commitment to service, and deep connection to Catawba County, I am prepared to lead from the front and build a sheriff’s office that reflects integrity, professionalism, and the values of the people it serves.
Some of the reasons I am running for Sheriff:
- Taking care of the deputies so they can work more efficiently, experience less stress, and want to stay at the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office.
- Making sure Road Patrol and the Jail are staffed appropriately so Catawba County citizens are protected and safer.
- Working toward better pay to meet the rising cost of living in our growing county and to ensure competitive salaries that encourage deputies to stay and build their careers here.
- Bringing back a sense of family and community within the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office.
- Continuing efforts to keep drugs and drug dealers off our streets and out of our communities.
- Ensuring our youth have community programs and positive outlets that allow them to engage with law enforcement through positive interactions.
- Increasing road patrol and lake patrol presence in the Sherrills Ford, Lake Norman, Terrell, and Denver areas.
- Working harder to slow the rising crime rate in Catawba County using new patrol strategies and strengthened community watch efforts.
- Ensuring accountability and transparency from myself and every deputy to the public.
- Making sure crimes are properly reported, addressed, and fully investigated.
- Establishing a Cold Case Unit to bring renewed attention and resources to unresolved cases.
- Creating a full-time Cyber / Child Sex Crimes Unit to protect our children and hold offenders accountable.
- Catawba County needs CHANGE—someone who genuinely cares about this profession, our citizens, our deputies, and the safety of everyone.