VIDALIA — Two candidates are vying for the Vidalia police chief’s badge in the upcoming election.

Incumbent Arthur Lewis, who has served as chief since 2010, will square off against Joey Merrill, who worked in the law enforcement division of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for more than a decade.

The Natchez Democrat polled the candidates with five questions. Candidates were asked to answer each question in 200 words or less.

The answers you will read below and inside today’s edition are the candidates’ own words.

The election will be March 5.

 Question 1: Why are you running, and what makes you the best candidate for the position?

Arthur Lewis: I’m running because in the past six years, together with the people of Vidalia, we have built a department that is well trained, well equipped and well respected, not only in the community, but throughout the state. We have made great progress through increased presence in the neighborhoods and schools. We work closely with the Concordia Narcotics Task Force to monitor drug activity in Vidalia. We now have a team of Investigators second to none in the state. The TRIAD program has been well received and continues to grow. We are working with our juvenile officer and other state agencies to extend our Neighborhood Watch program to include a parent-specific program. I plan to build on this foundation and with the continued input and support from the citizens of Vidalia, make the necessary adjustments to make Vidalia Police Department even better. I feel my four years as a military policeman, 31 years in local and parish law enforcement, three of those years as assistant chief and six years as chief, have given me the experience to lead this department in the direction the citizens want while staying within the guidelines of both the law and the budget.

Joey Merrill: I’m running for the office of chief of police because I know that I can make a great improvement within our city. I have the training, experience, energy and education to make the right common sense decisions. I will be equal and fair as a chief to everyone. My door will always be open to the citizens and my employees. I will ensure that every citizen and business owner will have access to me personally to disclose any problem that they may have. I am going to be a hands-on chief. I believe that problems should be solved not hidden. I will ensure that all problems are addressed and all phone calls are returned.

Question 2: What is the No. 1 issue facing the Vidalia Police Department as far as crime right now, where do you stand on it, and what’s the first step to correct it?

Lewis: I don’t believe there is any one issue that stands out over the others. There are several areas I am currently trying to improve upon. We are working on a program to help with our younger people, not just juveniles, but young adults as well. We as law enforcement can only do so much, and we will do all we can. I believe it starts at home. This is not to say parents aren’t doing their jobs as parents, but everyone needs help now and then. I feel if we work closely and build a relationship with the parents, young people, and possibly get the city administration involved, together we can find a solution to the problems involving our young people. Lately, our investigators have been working, solving and prosecuting quite a few shoplifting and forgery cases. If any business needs assistance in training their employees on spotting forged checks or how to spot shoplifters, we are always available to assist. There was a rash of burglaries several months back and increased neighborhood and business patrols have significantly reduced these. I think the key to effective law enforcement is community involvement. We all benefit when we work together.

Merrill: I see a need in Vidalia to address certain areas of law enforcement that would make Vidalia a safer place to live. When elected as chief, one of my first tasks will be to establish a full-time narcotics unit to combat the drug problem within Vidalia. This is not a problem that we can ignore any longer. Most crimes revolve around the sale and purchase of illegal narcotics. Combating this problem will not only make our streets and schools safer, it will reduce crime significantly.

 Question 3: What’s currently working in the police department?

Lewis: Being led by faith, I feel the best answer to that is our people. We have good people working at the Vidalia Police Department. Our officers are dedicated to the people of Vidalia. They are dedicated to their jobs. They take pride in what they do. Wearing the badge of the Vidalia Police Department is a privilege bestowed by the people of Vidalia based on trust and confidence in their ability to serve and protect. Our officers understand this and work day in and day out to maintain that privilege. This profession is not for everyone, and training isn’t everything. If your heart isn’t in it for the right reasons, then no amount of training in the world will make you a police officer. We are blessed to have the employees we have and we are also blessed to live in a town that recognizes and appreciates the fact that in order to attract and retain the best officers, we pay them the best we can and train them as best we can. I am proud and humbled to be the chief for the men and women of this department.

Merrill: I believe that the TRIAD program is a wonderful program in place now. I only plan to enhance it with ideas and grants for more money to better serve the elderly. Expanding the participation in this program to all elderly citizens and making them aware of this program will ensure its success.

 Question 4: What aspect of the police department can be improved upon?

Lewis: There is always room for improvement in all aspects of the department. The patrol captain evaluates our patrol section daily to identify any problem areas that need correction. The command staff is constantly updating our policies and procedures to ensure we stay current. The training coordinator works with the supervisors to make sure we are current and up-to-date on our training. The quartermaster evaluates our spending daily, from copier paper to overtime, to ensure we stay within our budget. Our vehicle maintenance program ensures our vehicles are properly maintained in the most cost-efficient way in order to make them last as long as possible. The TRIAD officers evaluate the program daily and search for better ways to assist the elderly. The school resource officers are constantly looking for ways to better serve our children, the teachers, and parents. I encourage everyone at the department to do their best; this includes me. I have an open-door policy to both my employees and the citizens of Vidalia. I accept and take into consideration any suggestions to make the department the best it can be for the people of Vidalia.

Merrill: I believe that ensuring that the officers and detectives work hand-in-hand with units within the state, specifically the Louisiana State Police and Attorney General’s office, to combat Internet crimes such as fraud and crimes against our children is a must. We must do everything we can to protect our children and citizens against these predators, as it is the leading cause in child abduction throughout the state.

Question 5: If elected, what will be your top three priorities as Vidalia Police Chief and what will you do in your first 100 days in office to address them?

Lewis: My first priority is to complete the certification of our motorpatrol officers. Once our motorpatrol program is in full swing, it will free up our other patrol officers to spend more time in the neighborhoods. This ties into the other issues of building the program for addressing the issues with our young people and building on our community policing. Having the motorpatrol dedicated to the highway for traffic and accidents frees the patrol officers to be able to spend more time in the community with our young people. The patrol officers will be able to get out of their vehicles and walk the streets and get to know the citizens and build on the good relationship we have already established. This will also improve our Neighborhood Watch program. The key to good law enforcement is community involvement. Since taking office as chief in 2010, I have hosted a monthly community meeting on the last Monday of the month to hear the complaints, concerns and recommendation of the citizens. I will continue this throughout my next term. I firmly believe when we all work together, we make Vidalia a better place to live, work and play.

Merrill: When elected as chief my top three priorities will be to self-audit the police department to ensure that the taxpayers’ money isn’t being wasted in any area. Waste and frivolous spending is one of my top concerns. Combating drugs and online predators is another priority that I will be addressing. Interviewing and evaluating each officer to ensure that we are getting the full potential of each officer is also a must. Although most officers that I have spoken with are Louisiana POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training Council) certified, I want to ensure that each officer receives this training for the officer’s safety as well as the public.