Sheriff Bell's office is always open to the public. You may call him at the Sussex County Sheriff's Office or can set up an appointment for a personal visit by calling the same number. The Sussex County Sheriff's Office number is 434-246-5000.

"The morning was cloudy with a light drizzle, but the spirits of the campaign poll workers seemed unaffected by the damp weather. I was Number 72 at the Courthouse Voting Site, located in the firehouse. I remarked that '72 was the year I graduated from high school, and to that the poll worker told me that it should bring good luck and all my candidate choices should be winners. I told her I was counting on it." James Shanko, Yale.

Yale Adventist School held their annual Fall Festival and Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser Sunday evening October 21st. Sheriff Bell attended the event, along with around 100 of his friends and neighbors. At the conclusion of the evening's activities, auctioneer Joe Grey hosted the traditional auction of cakes, pies and other homemade goodies. All proceeds go to the Yale school to help obtain needed school supplies and equipment. Sheriff Bell had the distinction of bidding for and purchasing the pie and cake which raised the highest amount that evening. Thank you, Sheriff for your part in supporting this worthwhile endeavor!

Sheriff Bell received the endorsement of Powhatan County Virginia Sheriff Lynn T. Woodcock in a letter which appeared in the October 9th edition of the Sussex Surry Dispatch. In part, Sheriff Woodcock stated "He has demonstrated honesty, integrity, and a high level of committment to the citizens of Sussex County, as well as to his fellow police officers. I urge you to cast your vote in the November 2007 election for Raymond Bell and the excellent leadership he will continue to bring Sussex County as your Sheriff."

The following letter appeared in the October 18th Progress Index newspaper in response to an earlier letter which concerned the advanced training recently conducted by Sussex County Sheriff's Office.

I would like to comment on the letter in the Oct. 8 Community Forum concerning taser training at a local Sheriff’s Office. As one of those who experienced this training, I would like to clarify some of the points made in the letter.

First, the mandate from the Sheriff is that if you are going to use the device, you must be certified in its use, the same as is required of Punch II (pepper spray) and firearms. There were several employees that did not go to the training at all, as they will not be using the weapon. There were others that were excused from the practical demonstration because of medical reasons.

The five seconds of “agony” received by the trainees is the exact amount of time the device is set to administer to the bad guys. Each trainee, having been certified by Taser International, Inc., is considered an expert court witness in the theory and the effect on the human body. To learn more about the X26 Taser and its use, see www.taser.com

It was mentioned in the letter that the Sheriff attended a jailor conference in Virginia Beach, and spent taxpayer money to do so. The Sheriff, along with two of his deputies attended the annual Virginia Sheriff’s Association Conference and Exhibition in Norfolk, as has been done every year. Almost every sheriff in Virginia attends this training conference. The recently retired Sheriff is a past president of this organization. For more information, see www.virginiasheriffs.org

As to the writer’s final comment concerning race — our foremost civil rights pioneer had a dream of an America he envisioned that would not judge a person based on his skin color. Almost 40 years after his death, we are still not there.

I have worked with the Sheriff for the past 15 years and have no reservations concerning his leadership qualities. He has stepped up to the plate time and again when others were too busy, disinterested or had another excuse to avoid taking necessary action. If his not going through the practical part of this training is the best criticism they can make, I think someone is grasping at straws.

Sheriff Bell participated in the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce's Meet Your Candidates meeting at the Courthouse on September 26, 2007. The Sheriff discussed issues of interest with his constituency and the meeting was well attended by the public. Retired Sheriff E. S. Kitchen was present and was given a plaque and tribute by the Chamber for his 27+ years of service.

Sheriff Bell was a featured speaker at the Candidate's Forum at the Wakefield Foundation Center for the Arts in Wakefield, Virginia on October 18, 2007. Each of the candidates was asked the same questions by the moderator and responded in turn.

If you would like Sheriff Bell to visit your civic group, club, church, or function please contact him so that he can add it to his schedule. See the Contact Us page for information.