We had the chance to sit down with Captain Robert Gray of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office to discuss the agency’s partnership with the Walton County Prevention Coalition (WCPC) and their strides to improve relationships in our community.
Captain Gray is the Patrol Bureau Chief at the Walton County Sheriff's Office. This bureau is responsible for all four uniformed patrol districts in Walton County. Patrol deputies are assigned to each district based on calls for service, response time, crime rate and population.
Captain Gray has been involved with the WCPC for the last three years and has recently been elected as the Vice-Chairman.
Q: Why do you remain involved with the coalition and the work they do in the community?
A: “Prevention is where it’s at. Working with the youth in our community to educate them on the dangers of marijuana, tobacco, and alcohol makes our job easier in the long run. Educating youth about the dangers of substance use at a young age helps them make better decisions and have a better chance of not facing addiction as they get older. The partnership that has been created between WCPC and WCSO is so important to our community and it’s a mutually beneficial relationship. We work together to educate the community.
Q: What is your favorite WCPC initiative?
A: The Hidden in Plain Sight Campaign; I love the way it educates parents on what to look for in their child’s room. The activity they set up at community events opens parent’s eyes and helps them identify warning signs right in their children's rooms. The WCPC staying on top of the latest trends with teens is imperative. Luckily, we have WCPC educating the youth on the effects of substances like what’s in the Juul and how to spot it.
“Together we are building valuable relationships and educating our community on a variety of issues we face daily,” added Gray. “We are thankful for the relationship we have with WCPC and that they empower youth in our community to make the best decisions.”
The Walton County Sheriff's Office is a state-accredited public safety agency in Walton County, Florida. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office provides careers for approximately 600 people, including approximately 250 sworn deputies and more than 100 firefighter/EMTs and firefighter/paramedics.
WCSO provides full-time law enforcement services to all four law enforcement districts in Walton County and protects the Walton County Courthouse and the Walton County Courthouse Annex in South Walton. WCSO also assigns a School Resource Deputy to every school within the Walton County School District through the Child Protection Bureau.