Labor union rep, former Mecklenburg detention officer is running for sheriff
Why would someone with just two years of experience working in the Mecklenburg County jail run for sheriff?
“Experience means nothing when it comes to an election,” said that former detention officer, Antwain Nance, who worked in the jail from January 2014 to October 2015. “People care about someone who cares about the people. If you can understand that, you can be a great sheriff.”
Nance’s plan to be a great sheriff includes reopening Jail North, trade programs for inmates and having deputies involved in on-the-ground law enforcement with CMPD, he said.
Today, he is a union shop steward who works for American Airlines and lives on the west side of Charlotte, he said. He was born and raised in Mecklenburg County, he said.
Nance, a Democrat, is running against Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Sgt. Ricky Robbins, who has spent 30 years in local law enforcement. Sheriff Garry McFadden has not said whether he will run for reelection. The primary election is in March.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
The Charlotte Observer: It’s been about 10 years since you worked in the sheriff’s office. What motivated you to run?
Nance: I did tell myself when I graduated that I was going to run for sheriff one day, but I kind of let that go because I wanted to trust the leadership.
As a shop steward, I’ve been watching what’s going on. Being from the city, the crime has risen to a crazy rate, and the people have spoken and they want a change. As a union leader, I can be the change that they need.
I have experience outside of law enforcement. I think that really helps me as far as understanding people.
(McFadden and past sheriffs), they don’t really understand life outside of law enforcement. It’s kind of a fraternity.
Observer: What’s some of the failings you’ve seen? What’s bothered you?
Nance: As far as the sheriff’s office is concerned, officer safety is a big thing.
When I was there, officers getting attacked was unheard of. That was extremely rare. I can bring officer safety back.
Also, there’s been 18 inmates who have passed under his administration, which is very odd to me. That shows me that they’re being neglected.
Observer: What goes into improving safety within the jail?
Nance: I believe that, as a union shop steward, it comes down to caring about people.
If you care about your officers, your deputy sheriffs, your offenders, you don’t have any issues. Eighteen deaths is too many. I talked to a couple of the parents of those individuals who passed away.
... Attacks on officers — you don’t care at all about the people.
You have to be a people person. You have to care about your officers because, again, it’s extremely stressful. It’s 12-and-a-half hour shifts every day with 50 different (inmates) — sometimes some really bad crimes that they committed, so it’s not easy to deal with those types of people.
When I get in, I just want to have a strong communication with them and say: I have your back. But at the same time, give the inmates humane treatment and respect.
Observer: One of the big conversations over the last six months has been whether the sheriff should be holding people for ICE. Where do you fall on that conversation?
Nance: I am for human rights. I believe in the Constitution.
I worked at the sheriff’s office; I was there when we had 287(g) agreements. I was there when we would get these guys. It would say on the paperwork, “ICE hold.” We’d take them down to arrest processing to release. There would be an immigration officer right there, and they would interview them.
Unfortunately, if they came up being undocumented, they would just deport them.
My job as a sheriff is to protect the people of this county; it’s not to be an immigration officer.
As far as 287(g), I would never bring that program back — ever. I’m for the people. Every person. You being documented, undocumented, I have nothing to do with that.
Observer: Do you know about House Bill 10 — that passed first — and now House Bill 318?
Nance: Josh Stein vetoed it —
Observer: 318.
Nance: 318, so it’s not really coming out.
As the sheriff, I’m going to always follow the law. So if they say, “You have to do it,” I’m going to do it. But as far as voluntarily doing it, I’m not going to do it. That’s how I look at it.
Observer: When you were at the detention center, Jail North was still open. There’s been some conversation about reopening it. Is that something you would support?
Nance: Yes, for sure.
(McFadden) is giving (inmates) to different counties. If they committed a crime in Mecklenburg County, they should be in Mecklenburg County. They shouldn’t be in Gaston or wherever they’re at.
Observer: There’s been quite a bit of turnover at the sheriff’s office in recent years. Drawing people back and keeping them — what is that going to take?
Nance: If you care about people, they will stay. If you take care of your employees, they will stay. I believe in that 100 percent. I take care of my union members.
Observer: On paper, the job of sheriff is jail, courthouse. But every sheriff is going to have some kind of program or initiative that’s uniquely theirs. Is there anything that you would want to do that comes to mind?
I want to restructure the jail and create some programs that were there before. I want to really get these guys rehabilitated.
The rap studio that (McFadden) put inside the (jail) was very disrespectful to victims. I don’t like that. That’s coming out. You’re not in jail to be entertained.
As far as initiatives, I want to get these guys learning trades.
Observer: I saw on your website talk about improving response times. Tell me more about that.
Nance: If a woman says, “I have somebody abusing me,” she shouldn’t have to wait.
They need to be apprehended quickly. That happens with a collaboration with us and CMPD. They are short over there, so we have to work together.
Observer: Is the sheriff’s office taking those kinds of calls right now?
Nance: They don’t take 911 calls. They can collaborate with CMPD. They can do certain things. It depends on the sheriff. The sitting sheriff decides what actually goes on.
Observer: If I’m understanding… You want more (traditional) law enforcement?
Nance: We have grown exponentially over the last 10 years. This city has really grown, and with that comes crime. We have to fight crime together.
Observer: With the understaffing right now, what does that look like?
Nance: That’d be easy. I believe that comes down to leadership. You take care of your employees, they won’t quit.
Ryan Oehrli covers criminal justice in the Charlotte region for The Charlotte Observer. His work is produced with financial support from the nonprofit The Just Trust. The Observer maintains full editorial control of its journalism.