Donald Hill

I am a native of Polk County, graduating from Tryon High School in 1987.  In 1990 I graduated from Haywood Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Fish and Wildlife Management and Criminal Justice.  I graduated BLET in 1991.  In May 1991, I was hired by Sheriff Boyce Carswell as a detention officer.  From 1992 – 2000 I was a Deputy Specialist.  From January 2000 – July 2001 I was a Patrol Sergeant.  July 2001 – December 2002 I served as the Patrol Captain and K-9 Officer.  From December 2002 – December 2006 I was the Operations Captain and K-9 Officer.  From 2006 – 2007 I served as both the Major for the PCSO and Jail Administrator.  In November 2008 I was appointed Sheriff by the unanimous decision of the Board of Commissioners and won the 2010 sheriff election.  During my service in Polk County I have received numerous awards including:

Polk County Employee of the Quarter – 1995 (first ever recipient)

Region C Citation – 1995

Region C Uniformed Officer of the Year – 1999

Region C Citation – 2000

Region C K-9 Officer of the Year – 2001

Advanced Law Enforcement Certification – 2004

Region C K-9 Officer of the Year – 2005

Distinguished Service Award from Foothills Crime Stoppers – 2007

Proclamation – Town of Tryon 2014
Letter of Appreciation – City of Saluda 2014

VFW Post 10349 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year –  2013/2014

I am a member of the Kiwanis Club of Tryon, the Polk County Fraternal Order of Police (Lodge 55), the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, serve as the Sergeant-At-Arms for the NC Sheriff’s Association, and serve on the boards of the Foothills Humane Society and Steps to Hope.

Pat Staggs

I have been a resident of Polk County for twenty-nine years and I retired from the Highway Patrol in March of 2013, with thirty years of service to the citizens of North Carolina. I held several different jobs during my tenure with the Patrol and retired with the rank of First Sergeant, District Commander, responsible for the operation of the Highway Patrol in Buncombe County.

During my tenure with the Patrol, I received over twenty-seven hundred hours of law enforcement related training to include Law Enforcement Field Training Supervisor, Incident Command, Anti-Terrorism for Managers, Leadership Skills for Criminal Justice Professionals, Equal Employment Opportunity Training, Law Enforcement Character and Ethics, Team Leadership Training and Administrative Officers Management training to name a few.

I have instructed law enforcement related courses for the Highway Patrol as well as the Community College System in North Carolina to local law enforcement agencies since 1992. I am currently an Adjunct Instructor for Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock and Isothermal Community College in Spindale instructing law enforcement related courses.

I am currently employed with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office as the Assistant Detention Center Administrator. I assist in overseeing the operation and supervision of the two hundred and eight bed detention facility in Rutherfordton.

During my law enforcement service I have received the following honors and awards; Region C State Patrolman of the year 1999, Buncombe County Trooper of the year 2012 and the North Carolina Honor of the Long Leaf Pine 2013.

I am married to Amanda Rickman Staggs and have two children, Felicia and Jake, who were both raised here in Polk County.

I invite you to visit my website at www.votepatstaggs.com and my facebook page at facebook.com/votepatstaggs to learn more about my training, experience and visions for law enforcement in Polk County.