Editor, Gazette-Journal:

I am a retired Virginia State Police Officer with 38 years service. I started the State Police narcotics enforcement program and had the privilege of supervising it on a statewide basis until my retirement 15 years ago. We investigated all levels of drug cases, utilizing every available method of investigation from wire intercept to grand jury, subpoenas for people and records, to mention a few.

I came into contact with most of the Commonwealth Attorneys, Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police in the State of Virginia.

It is as a result of this background that I have a keen interest in the criminal justice system in Mathews County where I have lived for the last 10 years. Wednesday night my wife and I attended the forum at the Piankatank Ruritan Club. It was the second forum we have attended, the first was at the library in Mathews Court House. We had not completely made up our minds on several of the candidates.

When the category of Commonwealth’s Attor...