Cover Story There’s A New
in Town
And His Name Is John D. B. Carr By Karen McConnell-Jones
When we hear the saying “There’s A New Sheriff in Town,” it comes with great authority. The excitement of someone new taking office can be life changing and even historic. But simply put, it means a new person has come to power and is going to make changes. Ideally, these changes will enhance what is already working, as well as implement new ideas, new appointments and create a new team that will work under the ever-vigilant leadership of the new Sheriff. Sworn uniformed Sheriff’s officers have law enforcement, security, and other court-related responsibilities under the direction and supervision of the Office-in-Charge. In Prince George’s County, the Sheriff is the top-ranking officer in a county’s police force. Unlike police in a city or town, the Sheriff is an elected official, voted by the people to serve a four-year term and beyond a shadow of a doubt, the people of Prince George’s County have spoken overwhelmingly — John D. B. Carr is the new Sheriff in town.
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Carr, a proud native of Prince George’s County, graduated from Bishop McNamara High School. Later, he attended the University of Maryland where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology & Criminal Justice. Carr then took his passion for community service and launched his career in law enforcement and became a member of the Office of the Sheriff for Prince George’s County. Accumulating more than 20years in law enforcement, Carr served the County in a variety of positions, including stops in the Warrants & Fugitive Division, and the Domestic Violence Intervention Division. Carr earned a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, serving as one of three Assistant Sheriffs, and having command over the agency’s Bureau of Field Operations. While serving as a Deputy Sheriff, Carr continued his education at Norwich University, where he earned a master’s degree in Public Administration.
“Yes, I am a proud native of Prince George’s County and I love to serve others,” Carr said. “My motivation to make an impact into the lives of others is what has driven me to this career in law enforcement.
I had an interest to serve my community in the federal government as an agent, in which I did serve in one of the federal agencies, but after joining the Prince Georges County Office of the Sheriff, I knew I had found my home to make a real impact in the community. I also coach youth sports and participating in various community activities, are among the many things I enjoy. There is so much I could say, but I am just grateful to be able to serve the people of my community.” As he continued to serve the community, then Deputy Sheriff, Carr saw the need to build on the legacy of the agency and the elected Sheriffs before him. Motivated by his passion to serve and address the growing social issues of domestic violence, mental health, youth and senior engagement, Carr decided to run for Sheriff of Prince George’s County. Vision & Purpose Community Magazine 31
One of the most notable early decisions was truly historic when Sheriff Carr appointed the first Black female Chief Assistant Sheriff. “The Office of the Sheriff has many great women and men that serve as deputy sheriffs. I selected my Chief Assistant Sheriff Elizabeth Crumb because of the great work she has been able to accomplish throughout her career. Chief Assistant Sheriff Crumb started her career as a District of Columbia, Metropolitan Police Officer. After starting her career in D.C., she transitioned to the Prince Georges County Police Department before coming to the Prince Georges County Office of the Sheriff. Her work ethic to serve the community and the agency matched my own and her ability to mentor and develop those around her made my decision easy. She is not only one of the agency’s best, she is one of the best in the State of Maryland. Also, my three Assistant Sheriff appointments represent the diversity and inclusion of the county and the Office of the Sheriff. Each of them has ties to the county growing up in different areas within the county. All of them have served at the Office of the Sheriff in varies roles, making them to be well-suited for the appointment. I can honestly say that I have pulled together an incredible team of experienced women and men who have proven their commitment to serving the people of Prince George’s County. The Office of the Sheriff will be diverse, equitable, and accessible, which is the best way to serve all our county’s people.”
Carr wants the Sheriff’s Office to be more up close and personal with the community. This is why it is important to Carr that he has a team that understands this mission. Carr personally feels that in addition to his field-related experience, serving as a certified instructor for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), teaching leadership principles will give him and his team a great advantage. Carr also is an active member of the IACP, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the National Association for Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA). He currently serves as the elected District 27 At-Large Member of the Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center.
As inspirational as he is, Carr proudly admits his true inspiration comes from his family. In fact, his mother Joyce Simpson-Turner is his greatest inspiration, always pushing him to be the best that he can be. His grandfather James Simpson and grandmother Deloris Simpson, along with his aunts and uncles who also played a huge role in making Carr the man he is today. “My wife and kids keep me grounded and inspire me to make a positive impact to the community in which we live. The love and influence of my family has allowed me to achieve great things, in life and in my career. I am blessed and thankful to God as there’s nothing like family to share along the journey that God has purposed me to travel.” Vision & Purpose Community Magazine 35
Arts and Media
Soundtrack for our Future!
By Marion Swingler
Borrowing a few lyrics from an anthem of the late 1980’s, which reached Top 20 of music charts in most countries and was sung to inspire during most events of that time because of inspiring hope, dedication, and great expectation for the future. The lyrics of this song are a call to our responsibility to the future which lies in our investment in children. Due to a lack of value and funding, our public-school systems are stripping away what our children need to learn about the performing arts. The lyrics of “The Greatest Love of All” causes me to ask, do we “believe the children are our future?” Do we desire that “we should teach them well?” Do we understand that it is part of evolution that there will come a time that we will “let them lead the way?” Do we want to “show them all the beauty they possess inside?” Are we determined to “give them a sense of pride,” to make life easier? When we hear their laughter, do we remember how it used to be for us and do we want to make it better for them? All of this can be cultivated through this great pathway of teaching one subject that motivates positive energy and interest in learning. This one subject is something that most around the world enjoy, but over the years it has been devalued and removed from the educational curriculum. Research has found that learning this one subject taps into several educational and life skills that at times, operate simultaneously. This one subject is music. There was a time when music played a more active role in our educational system, but that is drastically changing and having an adverse affect on our youth in our communities now and into our future.
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Music has proven to remain a vital foundational component of education. “The Alphabet Song,” copy-written in 1835, is usually the first learning tool children receive, and today it remains the tool we use to teach small children their ABC’s, because it works. For nearly two centuries, through the process of teaching young children this little song we create the foundation for the rest of their lives. The repetition of singing this song branches beyond the enjoyment of singing to speech, reading, writing, memory, recall, and a sense of pride for what they learned to do.
Music education in inner-city schools is being cut short and in some schools being cut out altogether. Classes where you were free to learn the skill of singing or playing an instrument through structured music courses like Chorus and Band. Budget cuts to music education in the public school system impacts children’s opportunities to better themselves in music and beyond to enrich their education and lives.
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