Today, Sheriff Charles S. Reader announced his intent to run for re-election in the November 2020 election in Pike County. Sheriff Reader declared his intent to run as an independent candidate because he feels politics do not belong in law enforcement.
Reader, who was first appointed as Sheriff in 2015, won in a landslide election the following year. Under his watch, the county oversaw the state’s largest homicide investigation, which led to the arrest of an entire family. As a result of the Sheriff’s “Buford Pusser” style, criminals were afraid to commit crime in Pike County because they knew Charlie would come knockin’.
“Our citizens need a Sheriff who has developed trust throughout his community,” Reader said on Friday. “The people need a Sheriff who has the experience to deal with criminals and who will get involved. They need a Sheriff who is not afraid to drive his truck through a field and chase after a convict.”
Reader told his supporters that the office of Sheriff is much more than an administrative position. He said it requires proactive law enforcement work and ensuring the people that when they call for service, their help will be answered with the fullest extent of the law.
“There should be no line that divides a community from their law enforcement,” said Sheriff Reader. “No dollar amount, no manufactured budget crisis by others. That is why my campaign slogan is ‘The People’s Sheriff’.”
Reader added a quote that was by America’s 28th President, Woodrow Wilson, who once said, “If you want to make enemies, try to change something.”
“My tenure as Sheriff has ruffled the feathers of those who have long played the good ol’ boys game, where it didn’t matter what you did; it only mattered who you knew,” the Sheriff said. “But when you’ve spent your career chasing down child molesters, rapists, and thieves, you don’t worry yourself too much about ruffling feathers.”
Sheriff Reader is suspended, pending the outcome of cases that should conclude in the spring, but unfortunately, filing deadlines for the election take place before the conclusion of the process.
Election Day is November 3, 2020.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Guardian’s editor, Derek Myers was the Pike County Sheriff spokesperson until July 2019. He also sent the above news release out on behalf of Reader at the request of Reader.