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MEET APRIL 

Passionate and Experienced Leader Delivering Results for Our Office and Community

I began my career at the Salem Sheriff's Office as a deputy sheriff on January 20, 2003.  In 2006 I was selected as Master Deputy and served in this role until I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2008.  As Sergeant, I provided front line supervision and managed the day to day operations to ensure all functions were handled safely and efficiently.  In 2014, Sheriff Ric Atkins selected me as Chief Deputy to become his second in command over of all office operations.  I served in this capacity until January 1, 2018 when I took office as Sheriff.

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I have served in most capacities of this office and as Sheriff, I have gained the experience necessary to fulfill our mission each day with competence and professionalism.  My vision as your Sheriff is to instill leadership and provide opportunities for growth and development to my appointees, and assure our community that we serve with courtesy, care, respect, and humility in the performance of our duties.

April

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EDUCATION
  • High School Diploma 1998-Rockbridge County High School

  • A.A.S. Forestry 2000-Dabney S. Lancaster Community College

  • B.S. Senior Status-Columbia Southern University

EXPERIENCE AT SALEM SHERIFF'S OFFICE
  • Sheriff   
    January 1, 2018 to present
  • Chief Deputy
    August 3, 2014-December 31, 2017
  • Sergeant
    August 10, 2008-August 3, 2014
  • Master Deputy Sheriff
    May 7, 2006- August 9, 2008
  • Deputy Sheriff
    January 20, 2003-May 6, 2006
BOARD MEMBERSHIPS​
  • Virginia Sheriff's Institute Board of Directors, Treasurer
  • Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission, Commissioner
  • Lewis Gale Medical Center Board of Trustees
  • Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program Policy Board Member
  • Western Virginia Regional Jail Authority Board
  • Roanoke Valley Drug Court Advisory Board
  • Roanoke Valley Mental Health Task Force
  • City of Salem Tax Task Force Committee
  • Commonwealth of Virginia Master Deputy Audit Board, Chair
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
  • Sleep In Heavenly Peace bed build & delivery team leader-personally volunteer
  • Special Olympics Basketball Coach-personally volunteer
  • Member of Rotary Club of Salem particpating in,
    • Clean Valley Day​-personally volunteer
    • Olde Salem Days-personally volunteer
    • ODAC Tournament-personally volunteer
    • Star BQ-personally volunteer
    • Christmas for Kids-personally volunteer
    • Read Across America-participate as office
  • Needlework Guild of Salem-participate as office
  • Help Save The Next Girl-participate as office
  • Salem High School After Prom-participate as office
  • Halloween Open House at Courthouse-participate as office
  • Touch A Truck-participate as office
  • Host & Visit students from schools across the Valley-participate as office
  • Salem Police Department Citizen's Academy-Sheriff's Office Night-participate as office
  • National Night Out-participate as office
  • Partner with Salem High School EFW class-participate as office
TRAINING

  • Psychological Safety: Creating a Culture of Trust |2023| 

  • Addictions and Trauma Workshop |2023|

  • Investigation-Focused Panel: Experts on Elder Abuse and Exploitation |2023|

  • Preventing Targeted Violence |2023|

  • The Art of Persuasion |2022| FBI National Academy

  • Crisis Awareness |2022| FBI National Academy

  • Leading At-Risk Employees |2022| FBI National Academy

  • Executive Management Training Conference |2022| Virginia Sheriff's Institute

  • Women in Leadership |2021| Justice Clearinghouse

  • After Incident Analysis:  Best Practices and Recommendations |2021| Justice Clearinghouse

  • Leadership Mentoring:  Successful Succession Planning |2021| Justice Clearinghouse

  • Creating Powerful, Positive, Sustainable Change |2021| Justice Clearinghouse

  • Leadership:  Lessons Learned Throughout a Career |2021| Justice Clearinghouse

  • Growing Your Career by Developing Your Brand |2021| Justice Clearinghouse

  • Successful Mental Health Diversion Programs: What LE Needs to Know |2021| Justice Clearinghouse

  • A Case Study in Pennsylvania's Transition to Online Sheriff Sales |2021| Justice Clearinghouse

  • Countering Disinformation Campaigns for LE Command Staff, Practitioners, and Public Information Officers |2021| Justice Clearinghouse

  • Managing Demonstrations, Protests, Civil Disobedience, Legal and Liability Issues |2021| Risk Management Institute

  • Internal Affairs Conference and Certification |2018| Public Agency Training Council

  • Lawful Employment |2020| Virginia Sheriff's Institute

  • High in Plain Sight |2018| Department of Criminal Justice Services

  • National Criminal Justice Command College| 2016| University of Virginia (10 week program)

  • Professional Executive Leadership School |2015| University of Richmond (3 week program)

  • Flying While Armed |2016| Transportation Security Administration

  • Performance Evaluations/Disciplinary Action Training |2015| City of Salem

  • Common Sense Leader |2013| Department of Criminal Justice Services

  • Advanced Civil Process |2013| Department of Criminal Justice Services

  • Leadership: Lessons Learned from Gettysburg |2013| Department of Criminal Justice Services

  • Accreditation Manager Training |2013| Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission 

  • Crisis Intervention Team Training |2013| Mental Health America of Roanoke Valley 

  • Judicial & Court Security Threat Assessment Symposium |2011| Virginia Sheriff's Association & United States Marshals Service

  • Horse Sense for Leaders |2011| Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy

  • First Line Supervision |2010| Roanoke Training Academy

  • Leadership Development Program |2010| City of Salem

  • Front Line Supervision |2008| Public Agency Training Council

  • Assessor Certification |2007| Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission

  • Court Security Seminar |2006| Public Agency Training Council

  • Survival Tactics for Jailors |2004| Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy

  • State and Local Court Security Seminar |2003| United States Marshals Service

  • Entry Level Jailor/Court Services |2003| Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy

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