Lieutenant announces bid for city sheriff
Traci White
Lt. Thelbert Childress
A 21-year veteran of the Danville Sheriff’s Office has announced he will run for the seat Sheriff James “Jim” Dooley will vacate at the end of this year.
Lt. Thelbert Childress joined the sheriff’s office in 1988 as a deputy sheriff and by 1992 he was holding a supervisory position and had reached the rank of sergeant.
Currently, Childress holds the rank of lieutenant over records and transportation, and is the deputy jail administrator supervising four platoons.
Since 2002, he has been in charge of making sure life, health and safety standards at the jail are in compliance with the state Department of Corrections’ mandates.
“We’ve gotten high scores,” Childress said. “That helps offset liability and lawsuits for the city.”
He also is the commander of the emergency response team at the jail, becoming a general instructor through the police academy and, since 2000, has been certified in defensive tactics through the Department of Criminal Justice.
“I set up the training, ordered equipment and came up with the policies,” Childress said. “We saved the city $10,000 by being able to have our training here.”
If elected sheriff, the candidate said he would like to institute the addition of another inmate work crew, noting that he would consider having that crew made up of women inmates.
“It would relieve the taxpayer burden,” Childress said. “They can do litter pick-up, cut grass, or other things to help the city out in the public works area.”
Childress said he also would like to see the sheriff’s office become more visible to the community.
He said the office is very involved in the March of Dimes and Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraisers, but would like to see more involvement with youth in the community.
“Children seem to have a lack of discipline anymore,” Childress said. “I’d like to see us do more outreach to groups like the Boys and Girls Club.”
Childress, 44, has lived in Danville his whole life. He graduated from George Washington High School in 1983.
He and his wife, Deen, have been married for 12 years and have three children, Charnell Brown, Ebony and Thelbert Jr., who all attend Danville public schools.
Childress is a deacon at Bibleway Worldwide Church, which he has attended since 1973.
• Contact Denice Thibodeau at or (434) 791-7985.
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Reader Reactions
Way to go southernlady!
If you are going to comment, at least be informed of the subject matter. And just to get it out of the way before people start jumping me:::: I DO NOT WORK FOR THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE. As a criminal justice student, I make it my business to be informed.
Even though the local office closed, the Sheriff’s office still participates in the March of Dimes walk every year (the Roanoke office hosted this past year). They also participate in the MDA lock up (by the way Lt. Childress participates and is “locked up” to raise money). They also have set up at Walmart and passed out gunlocks and promoted gun safety for children. Sheriff Dooley, along with some of his officers, also participates in the Torch Run for Law Enforcement. If you visit the Sheriff’s site there is a TON of information about what the Sheriff’s office is responsible for and what they have done. I would love to see Lt. Childress work with the Boys and Girls Club because children need the strong role models. (1982 Football State Champion G. W.) I think that Lt. Childress will continue to involve the Sheriff’s office with the community and find new ways to do so.
The Danville City Jail offers GED classes, substance abuse classes, and religious services. The point of being in jail is not for reform, that is left to the Department of Corrections AFTER a person is sentenced and they serve the majority of their time, THEN they complete programs through DOC to “transition” them back into the community. People are in jail because they have been arrested and either can’t post their bond, are offered no bond, or have been sentenced and are awaiting transport to DOC. The jail has a work crew that works where needed throughout the city like the City Farm but is made up of 3-5 men. A female work crew would be great because why should they be able to sit around all day? A day in the life of an inmate….some of you wonder what that is like. The jail is a maximum-security facility but there are trustees who work most of the day in the kitchen, serve all three meals, and keep the jail clean. It’s great for you to offer your opinions but they should be educated and a little open minded. People have been so quick to judge the Sheriff’s office on their less than stellar moments but the police department isn’t so much better. Someone should call the Commonwealth Attorney’s office and ask them exactly how many cases have been LOST because of inaccuracies by our police officers that we expect to protect us (for example the video in the murder trial). You make the informed decision.
To Optimistic…as you stand there waving the Lt. Childress Banner…there is one thing you may wish to do from now on prior to bashing Lt. Mondul and that is…LEARN HOW TO SPELL HIS NAME!
As for your outlook on what the Danville Sheriff’s Office does or has done…sounds like you have an inside track on things and are hoping they continue as is. Hmmm, maybe your outlook is more along the lines of self-preservation and not that of outside observation? Who knows?
I don’t know you tell me? I have never heard Dooley speak of what they do.
Pittsylvania County has a very fine educational program that was started by Sheriff Plaster and still continues today. Lt. Childress stated they do things for March of Dimes and MDA. What is that? March of Dimes Closed their Danville Office. They do a Walk every year! Do they participate in that? I think Childress needs to explain that.
I do know that better communications between the Sheriff’s Dept and the Police Dept is Vital. If Mondul is elected I know that will happen.
Are you confused on the duties of the City Sheriff’s department? They serve civil process, provide court security and oversee the jail. They do not do enforcement so the interaction with the community is not as important as the Danville Police Department. So some of the things you are talking about are not the Sheriff’s resposibility. Does the Sheriff’s Department provide any educational opportunities, like GED, now? They do search for persons who have wandered away from home with a system implemented several years ago. I suspect more is done by that department than you know. I have heard Sheriff Dooley speak at civic clubs and they do alot.
I am sure he will work with programs to get the inmates ready to go back into life on the streets.
Educational programs for the inmates.
Nothing has been said if inmates can get their ged while in jail like in Pittsylvania Co. I am sure Mike would work on that.
Better communication with the public on programs they are doing. When have you heard a word our of Sheriff Dooley on any thing?
Do more community based projects with the sherriffs office and the citizens.
I am sure if the citizens attend events that Mike is at, he would be glad to talk to any one who has questions.
Tell me what some of those good things are he would bring to the Sheriff’s office and what knowledge he has that make him so qualified. You sound close to Mondule. Not a little bit of the Buddy Buddy system working now, is it?
Mondul will bring good things to the office of Sheriff. He has good knowledge of what needs to be done. I would support him 100%. The City Sheriff’s office needs a man like Mondul. No Buddy Buddy System Either
I agree that a forum should be held so that we can get to know both candidates and find out what they stand for. I think both men have alot of good qualities and experience that could be a plus, but an opportunity to ask questions of both of them regarding concerns that we have would be helpful.
I think a Public Forum would be great for Danville.With the smalltown mentality and the Good Old Boy system that has gone on for years,the citizens can finally educate themselves with the real politics that is envolved with public elected officials.For years, a Sheriff could be elected withOUT a High School Diploma!and I ain’t talkin about the 1800’s either.Eventually,folks here in Danville will be able to advance in their careers on the strengths of their qualifications and merits and not by race or who they play golf with.Do your homework and pay attention people.Danville is already becoming the Armpit of the South.Watch the news on TV and they are to ashamed to call it Danville. They just call it Southside.
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