CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The former sheriff of Putnam County said he wants to return the department to the way it was when he was in office.

Democratic candidate Stan Farley told Gazette editors Wednesday that the department under Sheriff Mark Smith concentrates more on road patrols than on criminal investigations.

"The crime rate has gone up and indictments are down 50 percent," said Farley, who was sheriff from 1997 to 2004. "That's ridiculous."

Smith, a Republican, said county prosecutors are responsible for indictments, and they have a limited staff that has been tied up with several high profile cases, such as the Logan Goodall case.

The sheriff said the county has fewer meth labs since he took office. In 2005, there were 28 labs in the county, he said. This year, deputies have dealt with nine, three of which were trash found on the side of the road, he said.

But Smith said there has been an increase in petty crime and car theft. He attributed the rise to the economy and drug addiction.

"People are stealing things to augment their drug habit or whatever," he said.

Smith said he has encouraged communities to create neighborhood watch groups and put up signs to let people know the area is under surveillance.

Farley said he has gotten several calls from residents complaining about stolen property and saying the Sheriff's Department won't even take a report.

Smith said the department has 35 deputies, one of whom is in Iraq, and several others are preparing to ship out.

"It spreads them very thin," he said. "We just can't be everywhere."

"I think it's a lack of supervision," Farley countered.

Also Thursday, Smith dismissed concerns about a 28-year-old lawsuit in which he and more than 20 State Police troopers were sued for assault and property damage.

The federal suit stems from an incident in 1980 in Lincoln County where troopers arrested a group of motorcyclists.

Smith said the suit was not against him personally but a group of troopers. He said no punitive damagers were awarded, and the plaintiffs were awarded money only to cover medical expenses.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The former sheriff of Putnam County said he wants to return the department to the way it was when he was in office.

Democratic candidate Stan Farley told Gazette editors Wednesday that the department under Sheriff Mark Smith concentrates more on road patrols than on criminal investigations.

"The crime rate has gone up and indictments are down 50 percent," said Farley, who was sheriff from 1997 to 2004. "That's ridiculous."

Smith, a Republican, said county prosecutors are responsible for indictments, and they have a limited staff that has been tied up with several high profile cases, such as the Logan Goodall case.

The sheriff said the county has fewer meth labs since he took office. In 2005, there were 28 labs in the county, he said. This year, deputies have dealt with nine, three of which were trash found on the side of the road, he said.

But Smith said there has been an increase in petty crime and car theft. He attributed the rise to the economy and drug addiction.

"People are stealing things to augment their drug habit or whatever," he said.

Smith said he has encouraged communities to create neighborhood watch groups and put up signs to let people know the area is under surveillance.

Farley said he has gotten several calls from residents complaining about stolen property and saying the Sheriff's Department won't even take a report.

Smith said the department has 35 deputies, one of whom is in Iraq, and several others are preparing to ship out.

"It spreads them very thin," he said. "We just can't be everywhere."

"I think it's a lack of supervision," Farley countered.

Also Thursday, Smith dismissed concerns about a 28-year-old lawsuit in which he and more than 20 State Police troopers were sued for assault and property damage.

The federal suit stems from an incident in 1980 in Lincoln County where troopers arrested a group of motorcyclists.

Smith said the suit was not against him personally but a group of troopers. He said no punitive damagers were awarded, and the plaintiffs were awarded money only to cover medical expenses.

"That's old news as far as I'm concerned," he said.

Assessor's race

Incumbent Assessor D.W. "Peachie" Arthur, a Democrat, and Republican candidate Sherry Troyer Hayes also met with editors Wednesday.

Hayes has worked in the assessor's office for 20 years, 12 of them under Arthur.

If elected, she said she would put more forms online to save residents gas and money. "I'd like to make the office more user-friendly," she said.

Hayes said she would also like to see the office become more mobile.

"My main goal is to save the taxpayers," she said.

Arthur said the office has tried bringing mobile stations out to residents, but had limited success.

"I think it is feasible if done correctly," Hayes countered.

During Thursday's meeting, the duo briefly argued over training and qualification.

"I brought [the office] from cardboard boxes to the 21st century," Arthur said.

"When he came into office he didn't know anything," Hayes said.

Arthur said of their disagreements: "I don't think it's bad blood, it's politics."

Reach Veronica Nett at veroni...@wvgazette.com or 348-5113.