The Shadow
Bradley D. Armentrout, 48, of Covington has announced his candidacy for the office of Sheriff of Alleghany County/Covington. He was notified on April 17, 2023 at 2:35 p.m. that he had obtained the required number of signatures and was certified and qualified to be placed on the ballot.
Biography:
Armentrout was born April 17, 1975, in Alleghany County the son of David Armentrout and Sharon Downey McKee. He resides in Covington with his wife, Bre Armentrout. Although they have no children, they have two rescue cats that he loves and adores. Armentrout has always been an advocate for animals and children. He was raised in the Boiling Springs and Falling Spring areas of Alleghany County until his family re-located to Clearwater, Florida. He graduated from Clearwater High School in 1994. From there, he had the privilege and opportunity to attend St. Petersburg College obtaining his Associate’s Degree and continuing on to graduate from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with Directed and Advanced Studies in Applied Behavior Analysis and Abnormal Psychology. Furthermore, Armentrout also gained experience with Civil and Criminal Law as a Court Specialist with the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court and Clearwater Bar Association where he was employed for many years. While residing in Florida, Armentrout acquired the knowledge of budget and management experience while working as a Field Engineer with Hubbard Construction and as an assistant to the director of Global Resort Management. He returned home to Alleghany County in March of 2013 bringing back to our community his education and experience where he would begin his career in law enforcement. He attends Emanuel Episcopal Church with his wife, Bre Armentrout. Armentrout also currently serves on the Board of Directors for Olde Town Covington where he also volunteers at events and other capacities as needed to fulfill the organization’s mission of local economic development and area revitalization.
Law Enforcement Career:
Armentrout was hired as a Police Officer for the Town of Clifton Forge in April of 2013. He attended the Central Shenandoah Criminal Justice Training Academy in Weyers Cave, Virginia, and is a graduate of the 128th Law Enforcement Academy Class. In July of 2016, Armentrout was offered and accepted a position with the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy. Throughout his employment with the Sheriff’s Office, he earned and obtained many Advanced Training Courses and Certifications in SWAT, Drug Interdiction, Critical Incident Stress Management, Taser Instructor, and many others. Armentrout was a General Instructor for the Central Shenandoah Criminal Justice Academy in Weyers Cave and the Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy in Salem, Virginia where he not only taught, but was also a mentor to many new and upcoming law enforcement officers.
Goals:
As citizens, you deserve and will have a role in a Sheriff’s Department led by Armentrout. You will have access to speak with your sheriff, solve problems in your neighborhoods with professional strategies, and have a voice on boards and committees that steer the direction of law enforcement programs.
Alleghany County deserves a sheriff that SERVES the community and not himself or his interests. A sheriff that is not above or below, but a partner in the improvement and advancement of our area. A sheriff that sees the importance of law-enforcement as vital to economic growth and tourism development as well.
Armentrout has an enthusiastic vision for improving law enforcement in our community. Using his law-enforcement experience and education in psychology obtained from University of South Florida, he envisions cooperating with other agencies and creating programs to improve law enforcement encounters and outcomes within our community. Mentorship programs, Churches, Addiction and Treatment Programs and other community partners and organizations play a role in public safety and reducing crime and repeat offenses. Working together will yield new and better outcomes. He is trained and experienced in techniques to effectively tackle the drug problems in our community. Understanding the ripple effect of illegal drug use, addiction, and sales on every aspect of our lives makes this issue a high priority for this candidate.
Armentrout will also set the standard through leadership and training for deputy mindset when responding to mental health emergencies. His passion, energy and fresh perspectives are needed to overcome our challenges together, facing and tackling problems for the benefit of all residents in Alleghany County.
As sheriff, Armentrout also plans to cross-train all deputies in mental health response tactics and techniques which exceeds the state’s legislated mandates of the Marcus-David Peters Act which is to be fully enacted by July 1, 2028 by all jurisdictions in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Many departments throughout the state have already met these requirements. This will go further towards meeting all of our community’s unique mental health needs.
Another planned initiative of Armentrout’s administration is to address the lack of equipment and training for all deputies to respond to critical incidents. Currently, patrol deputies may be dispatched to a critical incident call for service such as an active shooter, hostage situation with a barricaded subject, or armed and dangerous individual that requires an activation of the Emergency Response Team (SWAT) which takes significant time to assemble and deploy to the scene. Meanwhile, the first responders that are dispatched to the scene may not have the proper equipment or tactical training they need to manage the situation until ERT responds. This is an officer safety, as well as a community safety, issue for those citizens in the area of the incident. Armentrout believes it is imperative for all deputies of the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office to be tactically trained on the level of SWAT certification. Time is of the essence and every minute counts during critical incidents when schools and businesses may be locked down or roads may be closed until the situation is resolved.
Accountability:
“I am passionate about law-enforcement and committed to serving our community honestly, compassionately, and efficiently. Ensuring that the deputies and staff in my administration, as well as citizens faced with a law enforcement encounter, are given just and due process.”
“During my campaign, I have often criticized the current administration, as well as my other opponent, with factual questions about their respective integrities, criminal convictions, and current investigations. I do this because people have a right to know about the candidates they are voting for. Crime can impact anyone and who you vote for will determine the degree of impact on you and your family.”
Integrity:
Currently, there are many programs already in effect at the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office that are working well and efficiently, and those programs and the deputies, dispatchers, and other staff that are operating them will be dynamic in Armentrout’s administration. All Sheriff’s Office employees will benefit from safer working conditions, better training, and being viewed by the community more positively.
“As your sheriff, I will serve ALL citizens, Veterans, Blue and White Collar, as well as the underserved and vulnerable populations. Everyone deserves a safe community and a sheriff that works hard every day to make it that way. Additionally, I plan to be present in the community and also to answer calls for service alongside my deputies. My open “come to your door” policy will allow me to listen to you and hear your concerns and my commitment to TRANSPARENCY and community participation will give you the peace of mind knowing what is happening in the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office.”
