Last night over 75  people packed a home in Hamilton to show support for candidate for Sheriff, Eric Noble.[read_more] The crowd included  Middleburg Mayor Betsy Davis, Hamilton Mayor David R. Simpson, Hamilton Town Councilman Dimitri Kesari, Delegate Dave LaRock, Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio, and Commonwealth Attorney Jim Plowman. Many former Loudoun deputies were also in attendance.
In his introduction of Eric Noble, Loudoun County Commonwealth Attorney Jim Plowman endorsed Noble over incumbent Sheriff Mike Chapman, saying,
“We’ve completely strayed away from a local policing model in favor of an ineffective big government style approach.”“We need to get back to focusing on the ‘broken windows’ in our communities with a leader that understands the role of local law enforcement.”
Who would know better what Loudoun needs in a Sheriff than the Commonwealth Attorney who works so closely with the Sheriff? Â As the person who prosecutes criminals in the county, Â Jim Plowman must work constantly with the Sheriff and his office. If he says the current Sheriff’s model is not working in Loudoun County, it’s not working.
The Republican nomination for Sheriff will be decided in a convention on May 2nd.  Anyone who wants to be a delegate for Eric Noble, please go here and download the delegate form. It’s free to attend the convention but you must sign up Sunday, March 29th. If you are unable to deliver the form to Leesburg by 5:00 on Sunday, contact Eric’s team and someone will pick it up for you.
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[…] Chapman fired Deputy Eric Noble without cause, many saw the true Mike Chapman revealed. Â We tried to warn citizens. Chapman won the Republican convention by a mere 6 votes, making it […]
[…] Commonwealth Attorney Jim Plowman the man who works with Sheriff Chapman the most often, has endorsed his opponent Eric Noble. Last night’s debate made it clear why CA Plowman thinks it’s time for a new sheriff in […]
Can someone remind us how much Mr. Chapman is paying Liz Mills?
About three deputies worth. Plus all the personal benefits she wants. Pretty well paid for being the keeper of the twitter account password.
Seriously? Why is she paid so much?
She handled Chapman’s Facebook page when he ran for sheriff last time. In return she got a $97,000/year taxpayer funded job handling the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page and Twitter account. With salary increases she is up around $110,000 a year now, possibly more. And to think that at times there are only 2 deputies patrolling the west end of the county, heck that money could have put 2 or 3 more deputies on the street. And, the LCSO already had a civilian media person who is making a hefty buck! Makes one wonder what these two do all day……
Is she running Chapman’s campaign now?
Congratulations Mr. Noble! For the Commonwealth’s Attorney, who has nothing to gain from this politically, to endorse you is outstanding news. Let’s hope you take the reigns as Sheriff of Loudoun County and restore the morale of the deputies and tackle the alarming heroin problem which has been neglected by the current administration. As Mr. Plowman said we need a leader who understands local law enforcement and focuses on solving issues in our communities. We do not need a leader who is solely focused on future political aspirations and self -promotion.
I’m one of the many deputies that work for Chapman that thinks things are much better than they were! The last thing we need is a trip backwards, bringing the good old boys of Loudoun back into the Sheriff’s Office. Those guys know everything and are insulted when the little people bring up ideas, or suggest they may know a better way! No thanks!
LOL this comment is obviously from one of the 3 or 4 (out of 500) deputies that actually feel this way, and these few are ones that Chapman gave jobs to because they helped him with his campaign. Like many others have said, if you really want to know how bad things are in the LCSO you don’t have to read any comments, just ask a deputy.
Literally the only people who support him were those previously promoted, especially to “bulls eye” positions where your likely gone if the Sheriff isn’t re-elected. Every deputy working “where the rubber meets the road” is begging for new management.
Justice served and SR., that’s just simply not true! A lot of road deputies are fairly new and really don’t have anything negative to say and are appreciative they have a law enforcement job. Most people who came from somewhere else realize, this happens everywhere, the grass isn’t always greener. Most disgruntled road deps worked in OSD in Some fashion and have an issue with that chain of command, which those deps have poisoned most others. A lot of people just come to work and do their jobs to the best of their ability, no matter who the Sheriff is! They didn’t like the last one, they don’t like this one and they won’t like the next one!
Maybe we wouldn’t have a department full of “fairly new” road deputies if we could pay, provide benefits, and support the workforce we have and not have such a high turnover rate in the first place. Like the squad poaching for personnel because “we have too many people with high badge numbers and not enough experience over here” problems, etc.
But your right, at the end of the day most line deputies don’t really care who the Sheriff is and most employees never love their bosses. What matters to the guys though is what is done on their behalf, what is promised, or at least what is tried. Sure Chapman got vacancy savings changes and night differential, but of those 21 deputies hired a good chunk quit or failed or were transferred – and spots that were filled went right back open because of promotions. The field is less staffed now than it was before the “vacancy savings”. And night differential? Fantastic! Except it was an “aim low” approach, remains the lowest in the entire region, and Chapman hasn’t even tried to go back for more like he promised. It didn’t even make the “maybe” fund budget request. Too political maybe?
What Deputies care about are the little things. Things that boost morale. How about those campaign promises. You know the ones. That promise of more and greater deputy access to overtime assignments, and the relaxation of the rules for off-duty employment?. Never mentioned again. Promise of more deputies on patrol? HAHAHA. The citizens should be appalled there are routinely times when there is only 9 deputies and 1 sgt on duty for the entire county. That promise to consider allowing out-of-county deputies take their vehicles home if gas prices came down? Remember when he said “Cruisers are part of the Deputy benefits package”?. When asked now he’ll say “Absolutely not”. The PBA even put forth a proposal to have deputies pay for the gas to and from out of county residences. Chapman wouldn’t even hear it. Chapman did say he would get us new and modern uniforms, and that one has worked out. Except about 75% of the agency still only has one shirt, and several pairs of pants that change color in the wash. How about the 100’s of shirts that had to be sent back for the wrong patches? We tried so hard to go lowest bidder, we ended up having to spend more money to replace it all, and we still don’t have it right.
I could go on, and on, and on. These are the things that matter to the deputies. If you really were a Deputy, and not a commander, or someone given a special spot by Chapman – you would understand that.
I think the pay is part of our own fault, we don’t do what many others across the country do, attend these BOS meetings and demand more for ourselves! The school employees do it and are successful at it, I don’t blame the sheriff, I blame US as a family, for that.
We complain about staffing when we are now a little better off than 3 years ago, personnel wise, but the staffing examples that have been given to the sheriff show that we are actually over staffed and could do our work with less people. I don’t beleive he wants to go less! That is a staffing model one of US put together and forwarded. When our old timers command staff, including Noble, were asked about staffing and how they came to those numbers, they said, “with my training and experience” and “cause that’s the way we have always done it”. Unacceptable in my book! This is 2015 and “cause that’s the way we have always done it” is a horrible phrase, a morale killer!
Chapman at least listens to ideas the we have put up and considers them and has made changes based on those ideas. Noble and Frye did not support those who brought up ideas, and guys would go around them to get their ideas heard, especially Frye!
All of the sections are short people, in our agency, I’m not sure any agency will say they have enough people. Ask CID, OSD, CSU, ADC, courts they are all short people, we will never say we have enough, it has been that way for the past 15 years! Ask anybody at any other agency and they will tell you they are short people!
Chapman has given us the change we needed, do I agree with everything he has done, no, and that is to expected, with any Sheriff, police chief or boss. I beleive he will continue to make this agency even better over the next 5 years
I really like the fact that Mr. Plowman called out Shawn Williams, but when will he call out Leo Rogers for domestic abuse too? Both William and Rogers should resign because Loudoun County can do better.
I want specific examples and do not care who lived in Loudoun the longest. Nor do I care if they are friends with the Commonwealth Attorney. The Sheriff insures the Rule of Law not make friends! I look forward to the debate!
James B. Montfort III
President
Mr. Monfort if you wish specific examples of the poor leadership of Mike Chapman and his cronies there are 730 deputies and civilian staff of the Sheriff’s Office; the next time you bump into any one of these folks just ask them and you will get more than you bargained for.
I am glad to see Mr. Plowman has endorsed Noble. I am sure people understand now what I learned about Chapman in the last election, that his deception was limitless. Chapman’s current attacks on people helping Noble shows a weak and troubled personality. Chapman was never endorsed by anyone who worked for the D.E.A. and in hindsight that should have resonated with everyone in the Loudoun Republican Committee. I hope people now understand why I never shook his hand after the primary. When Noble wins he should show the same honor by simply ignoring someone who is deceptive. Chapman as far as I observed lacks any trait that would distinguish him from your average troubled mental health patient. I believed during the last election he was a serious threat to the safety of Loudoun County and that’s why I ran as independent. I am sure people who have witnessed him first hand in a leadership role have recognize my well placed opinion. Ron Speakman
These comments all read like insiders, there are going to be many candidates, when an ex DEA agent can get elected, anything in Loudoun is possible, this good old boy nonsense of who supported who is a farce perpetrated on the locals from Loudoun who still think this is a Old time Good Old boy network, its not, check out the 10’s of thousands of new residents along Rt. 50 for example, they care nothing of the “middleburg mayors ” thoughts, nor this jibberish from Astute Observer who sounds like Noble himself wrote it, its a new Loudoun, was before when a nobody carpetbagger with no local LE experience won…
We won’t have to worry about that when Eric Noble becomes Sheriff. He’s a life time resident of Loudoun, a graduate of UVA, with 27 years experience in Law Enforcement.
well its settled then, why even have an election…. lifetime resident of Loudoun may well be the problem, this aint your momma’s loudoun
Appreciate your commentary jay, but your wrong about a few things, and I can assure you wholeheartedly that I am not who you have ventured a guess about. If you ever have the opportunity to speak in person with both candidates it won’t take you long to figure out who the best candidate is to lead our Sheriff’s Office, and it’s not the incumbent. If you don’t believe me go for it my friend. You will quickly see one man who is all about himself and it comes across as soon as he opens his mouth. On the other hand, Mr. Noble presents a polished, professional, selfless image and one can see that his desire to lead the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office is about them and the citizens of Loudoun County and not about self-promotions and political aspirations. Again, talk to both of them and I lay a paycheck that you’ll come away wanting to help Eric Noble get elected Sheriff!
Don’t believe any of the retired deputies are looking for employment – they’re just volunteering their time to support Eric Noble and Jim Plowman as very competent and able law enforcement leaders for Loudoun County, and they care about the welfare of the LCSO and the men and women who work there. When elected Sheriff, Eric will undoubtedly install very competent and able commanders who are respected by the deputies who spend their days working for the betterment of the agency instead of the political welfare of their boss. They will be moving to restore the agency to the high esteem it once enjoyed and working to restore faith of the employees which will result in an inspired workforce to better serve the citizens of the County. The deputies deserve a leader who can get along with the Commonwealth Attorney; that relationship, which is non-existent now, is critical to the welfare and safety of the citizens of Loudoun County.
Loudoun County is lucky to have a prosecutor like Jim Plowman and his endorsement of Eric Noble for Sheriff is one big step for restoring morale and integrity to the LCSO.
For those of you who are interested there is an upcoming debate between the Sheriff’s candidates. This will be a great opportunity to hear their ideas and also to ask questions. It is hoped that Sheriff Chapman will appear; during the last election cycle he ducked out of the one and only debate and it is hoped that this is not repeated. The event will be moderated by Clerk of the Court Gary Clemens and is sponsored by the Loudoun County Republican Women’s Club. It will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Monday April 13th at the Rust Library in Leesburg.
As the previous poster stated, the deputies are supporting Eric Noble and wishing him success. Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Plowman, along with several of the other constitutional officers, and also Delegate David LaRock are in support of Mr. Noble.
Noble you have the support of the deputies, and all of us are wishing you success. Just do us a favor. Nothing against Frye, the man you will likely make your 2nd in command, but please keep a keen eye on him. All this talk about anger issues now upstairs, we don’t need a repeat. Daily cruiser tossing and throwing peoples stuff to the wind in parking lots, yelling at deputies in roll call, etc. is not going to go over well. This goes for several of the people you are currently surrounding yourself with from an administration of the past, many of which really did need a boot the last time. Please make sure you remember to have a new administration with new and fresh ideas, not just an old gang back to the simpson years reunion. The Major’s telling everyone daily a vote for you is a vote for Frye and the old gang mentality. Make sure it isn’t so, or you’ll be right back in the same spot four years from now.
Why has so much of this campaign centered around Ricky Frye who isn’t running for anything? Strange.
He’s a nice guy, but if you haven’t worked for him you wouldn’t understand the concern. The boys in blue are clearly behind Noble. But they got burned the last time by certain position appointments of commanders by Chapman, so they have a right to be cautious this time too.
I understand.
The endorsement of the Commonwealth Attorney is the one single most important and truly meaningful one that a Sherriff’s candidate can have. The fact that Jim Plowman has endorsed Eric Noble and not incumbent Chapman is a true indication of the sorry state of affairs of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. Kudos to Mr. Plowman (who is the Chief Law Enforcement officer of the County) for having the courage and integrity to do the right thing instead of the politically popular thing. It is widely known that Sheriff Chapman has long ago lost the confidence of the deputies and the extremely low morale has affected the entire agency. The deputies and civilian staff have been subjected to three years of ruling by intimidation and are desperately seeking a change. Mr. Plowman and other officials have observed first-hand the untenable situation that has evolved under Chapman’s leadership or lack thereof.
The endorsement of Sheriff’s candidate Eric Noble by Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Plowman and the other key leaders of the Republican Party should allow voters to make an educated choice for electing the next leader of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
VERY well said. Thank you!