J.D. Slape for Sheriff of Catawba County

Meet J.D. Slape

Candidate for Sheriff of Catawba County

My Life Story

 

 

     I was born in 1977 in Humansville, Missouri, to Navy military parents and was the youngest of four siblings. I attended elementary school in Humansville until second grade, when my parents moved our family to Alexander County, North Carolina, in 1984. We lived on a farm in Taylorsville, where I attended Bethlehem Elementary for two years and then Hiddenite Elementary for another two years. In 1988, we returned to Humansville, Missouri, where I began my sixth-grade year.

     Back in Humansville, I played baseball and basketball throughout my elementary years. Starting in seventh grade, I continued with summer baseball, basketball, and joined the junior high track team through the beginning of my freshman year. In high school, I played soccer, basketball, track, and baseball through my sophomore year, then finished the remainder of high school competing in soccer, basketball, and baseball. I lettered in all three sports for all four years. Throughout my athletic experience, I developed a strong work ethic, learned teamwork, and understood the importance of being both a team player and a leader. Working on the farm in my spare time further taught me that hard work takes you places. My mother also made sure we had a strong spiritual foundation by keeping us in church every Wednesday and for both Sunday services at the Assembly of God Church.

     After graduating high school in 1995, Amber and I married and moved to the Catawba Valley area of North Carolina. I worked in the furniture industry, and by the age of 19, I was a lead person over half the plant. I supervised the upholstery, rub, and pack departments, handled all material and hardware orders, and managed shipping to ensure products were packed and delivered correctly.

     Amber and I raised two girls and two boys. Two of our children faced significant medical challenges. Our second daughter, Lacie, was born with infantile scoliosis, and her severe spinal deformity was discovered at her four-month checkup. She was sponsored by the Shriners and began TLSO bracing at seven months old in Greenville, SC. She wore braces until age four, then began body casting from age four to seven, being put into and cut out of casts every eight weeks. At age seven, she was sent to Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, NC, where she began growth-rod spinal surgeries. She endured 16 surgeries for rod extensions, hardware malfunctions, and rod replacements until she was sixteen. Over the years, she was also diagnosed with POTS and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

     Both of our sons are on the autism spectrum, with our youngest, Liam, facing additional developmental challenges. At age three, after we described some concerning behaviors to his doctor, he underwent brain scans that revealed he was having seizures. Further imaging showed a brain tumor that, while not currently cancerous, is being closely monitored at Duke Medical Center. It is growing and will eventually require removal.

     I began working full-time at the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office in March 2001. To support my family while Amber managed the children’s medical needs and appointments, I also worked seven different off-duty jobs every year. It has been a struggle, but we never stopped fighting for our family. We have raised four amazing, sweet, respectful children. And at age 48, Amber has finally been able to begin her own career as a third-grade teacher in Catawba County—a dream she put on hold for years so she could prioritize our family. If it weren’t for Amber, we wouldn’t be where we are today. God blessed one lucky man with a great woman, and I know how fortunate I am.

     During my 22 years at the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, I served as a jailer, jail supervisor, patrol deputy, school resource officer, summer road-patrol support, bailiff, courthouse security, lake patrol officer, civil process server, warrant server, and transport deputy for commitments across North Carolina. I also provided hospital security for inmates whenever needed. In my last two and a half years with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, I worked road patrol, served as a school resource officer, worked as a bailiff, assisted with serving papers, and supported lake patrol and school coverage whenever needed. After nearly 25 straight years as a deputy sheriff, I have worked in every division of a sheriff’s office and understand how the entire operation functions. I feel I’m a truly well-rounded deputy sheriff, and no one else running has this level of experience as a real Deputy Sheriff.

     Since the age of five, I’ve said I wanted to be a police officer. By the time I moved to North Carolina at 18, I knew for certain that law enforcement was my path. My lifelong goal has been to be a good human being, a mentor, a role model, and eventually to run for Sheriff. I have been fortunate to serve, support, and guide many young people, and to be part of a community my family has called home for 30 years. I want to lead and help make Catawba County the best it can possibly be. With my experience, dedication, and work ethic, I am committed to helping our community reach its highest potential.

 

     

      

               

 
 

 

“A Sheriff For All!”

 

Education

  • Elementary
    • Kindergarten through First Grade: Humansville Elementary- Humansville, Missouri
    • Second Grade through Third Grade: Bethlehem Elementary- Taylorsville, North Carolina
    • Fourth Grade through Fifth Grade: Hiddenite Elementary- Hiddenite, North Carolina
    • Sixth Grade: Humansville Elementary- Humansville, Missouri
  • Junior High
    • Seventh and Eighth Grade: Humansville Junior High- Humansville, Missouri
  • High School
    • Ninth through Twelfth Grade: Humansville High School- Humansville, Missouri
  • Law Enforcement Training
    • B.L.E.T (Basic Law Enforcement Training): Catawba Valley Community College- Hickory, North Carolina
    • Detention Officer Certification
    • Police Law Institute (PLI)
    • NC Intoxilyzer Evidentiary Breath Test Certification
    • North Carolina Boat Certified and Trained
    • Understanding and Planning for School Bombing/ Threat Incident
    • Teen Dating Violence Workshops
    • North Carolina Crisis Intervention Training- I was in the first law enforcement class to get certified in Catawba County
    • Michael Dorn- School Safety and Threat Assessment Seminar
    • North Carloina Mental Health Conference
    • Lt. Col. Dave Grossman- The Bulletproof Mind for Law Enforcement
    • Troysgate’s Experiential Learning Methodology- shooting scenario training
    • NCASRO (North Carolina Association of School Resource Officers)- Out of being SRO certified for 18 years, I have attended 11 week long training Conferences.
      • Cyber Sex Crime Classes
      • Active Shooter Drills and Classes
      • Legal Updates
      • School Threat and Assessments
      • Identifying Gangs 
      • Cyber Bullying, Stalking and Crimes
      • Drug and Pill Identification Classes
      • Phil Chalmers- Profiling Dangerous Peiople, School Shooters, Mass Murders and Serial Killers Homicide Training
      • Dr. Al Valdez, Ph. D.- Gang Enforcement Trainer
      • Many many more classes, after going to 11 Conferences!! 

Twenty-Two Years of Service for Catawba County

 

  • Jailer/ Detention: 2+ Years
    • Was promoted to Night Shift Supervisor as Corporal within three months.
  • Road Partol Service: 7.5 Years
    • Patrolled the whole County but was mostly in Zone 3: Newton, Hickory, Vale, Longview, Maiden, and Brookford.
    • Also Patrolled Zone 4:  Denver and Lake Norman area, Town of Catawba, Maiden, and Newton.
  • School Resource Officer: 12+ Years
    • First School Resource Officer over the first County Alternative School (Catawba Rosenwald Education Center) for 10 years:  Also served at River Bend Middle School.
  • Other Duties:
    • Lake Patrol; Served Civil Papers and Warrant Papers; Transport inmates and Involuntary Commitments across North Carolina; Courthouse Security; Bailiff; Provide hospital security for inmates and commitment patients while being medically and mentally checked out; Etc...
  • Off Duty:
    • Worked School Ball Games at every school in the County for 22 years; High School Graduations; School Proms; Pin Station Bowling Alley; Kool Park Pool; Dillard’s; Skateland; Security for several Churches; Balls Greek Campground Meet for 22 years; Security for Cross Country Campgrounds; Hickory Fairgrounds; Hart Square with helping Fred T. Foard JROTC park cars at this event; and many other events and jobs over 22 years of service.
  • Coaching:
    • River Bend Middle School Boys Baseball, Boys Soccer, and Girls Soccer.
    • Bunker Hill High School JV Boys Head Soccer Coach, and was Assistant Coach of the Varsity Boys Soccer Team.- Also coached Baseball, Softball and Soccer through the Hickory Parks and Recreation for my kids and the Hickory City kids for approximately 10+ Years   

Two Plus Years of Service for Lincoln County

 

  • Road Patrol Service: 4 Months
    • Patrolled Denver and Lake Norman District
  • School Resource Officer: 1+ Years
    • School Resource Officer for East Lincoln Middle School, Trained a School Resource Officer at North Lincoln Middle School and then filled in for a month at West Lincoln Middle School while a Deputy was out on maternity leave.
  • Courthouse Bailiff: 1 Year
    • Maintain Courthouse Security & Run Criminal, Civil and Superial Courts; I maintain all the digital courthouse and courtroom monitors in the Courthouse;  
  • Other Duties:
    • Lake Patrol; Security at Lake Norman Public Beach Access; Serve Civil Papers and Warrants; Transport inmates and commitments
  • Off Duty:
    • High and Middle School Ballgames; Security for Multiple Churches; Rock Springs Campground; Apple Festival and many other jobs when needed.
  • Coaching:
    • East Lincoln Middle School Boys Baseball for one season.

 

 

“I intend to do my BEST for everyone in Catawba County and serve as a positive, effective LEADER.”

J.D. Slape 

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On March 3rd, vote for J.D. Slape for Sheriff of Catawba County.