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Michael J. Fowlkes II announced that he will be running in the sheriff’s election for Lunenburg County on November 7.

“This is an important event for our community, as it will determine the individual who will be responsible for upholding the law and ensuring the safety of our citizens,” Fowlkes said.

Fowlkes is currently employed in law enforcement and said he has the experience to run this agency. When Fowlkes made his decision public, he explained that he wants to serve the area where he grew up and to create safeguards based on the needs of the community.

Michael J. Fowlkes II is a resident of Lunenburg County and is the son of Michael Fowlkes Sr., a 29-year retired Deputy of the Lunenburg Sheriff’s Office. He is married to Stephanie Smith Fowlkes and they have three children. Fowlkes is a graduate of the Central Virginia Criminal Justice Academy and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Virginia
Union University in Business Management. Fowlkes started working in law enforcement shortly after completing his academic education and has over 10 years of experience.

Fowlkes is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. He is also a proud local farmer who said he understands the dedication and commitment that farmers in the county must have daily to be able to provide for their families. Fowlkes has a scholarship program called “The Fowlkes Student Athletic Scholarship” that generates academic scholarship opportunity for students who are graduating from Lunenburg County High School.

Fowlkes is currently a senior deputy sheriff at the Prince Edward County Sheriff’s Office in Farmville, where he serves as a patrol officer. He is also a field training officer who has trained numerous deputies in patrol techniques, investigations, standard operational procedures related to law enforcement, and community engagement. Fowlkes is also a subject matter specialist, general instructor, Project Lifesaver staff assistant, and has received crisis intervention training.

Fowlkes stated that he “intends to work hard to enhance the Sheriff’s Office by establishing a better work environment for the department’s employees in an effort to maintain a full-time staff and to reduce the turnover rate.”

Fowlkes also states that his focus will be on providing training opportunities for personnel in areas such as
investigations, patrol, community outreach, and community engagement to assist with crime prevention. Some of his goals are to lower the county’s crime rate, increase public safety, and to create programs that will be resourceful for the members of the Lunenburg County community as well as enhance relationships with fire, rescue, and other law enforcement agencies in an effort to increase morale and build solid working relationships.

As sheriff, Fowlkes intends to create a 24-hour operational schedule to provide coverage in the county and to improve the response time of calls for service as well as implement programs that assist with the deterrence of crime such as business checks; security checks; neighborhood watch programs and an agency call list for wellness
checks for seniors and/or disabled members of the community.

Fowlkes added that he will be focused on what is most important, which is the citizens of Lunenburg County.

“Let us work together to ensure the change and safety of our community,” Fowles said. “A change is coming.”