Joe Gamble

Joe Gamble is currently serving in his third term as Sheriff for Talbot County, Maryland.  Sheriff Gamble retired from the Maryland State Police after 27 years of service as the Commander of the State-Wide Homicide Unit. His duties included investigating homicides, police-involved shootings, and criminal allegations on police officers across Maryland. In addition to those duties, he also supervised the Maryland State Police Drug Task Forces and the Eastern Shore Gang Unit. During his tenure in the homicide unit, Sheriff Gamble was deputized by both the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation while working on violent drug trafficking organizations operating in the Eastern United States.  Sheriff Gamble founded the Talbot Goes Purple Drug Education Initiative that has educated tens of thousands of students, parents, and grandparents across the region. During his 36 years of law enforcement experience, Sheriff Gamble has received numerous awards and recognition at the local, state, and federal level for his work in violent crime, violent drug crime, victims’ rights, innovations in homicide investigation, community outreach, and police officer of the year awards.  He currently serves as the President of the Maryland Sheriff’s Association, a commissioner on the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission, and a number of boards in Talbot County that focus on youth and families. 

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What is your current position?

I am currently serving in my 3^rd term as the elected Sheriff for Talbot County, Maryland. Prior to becoming Sheriff, I served with the Maryland State Police for nearly 28 years. I retired as the Commander of the Statewide Homicide Unit, where I spent about 16 years investigating homicides, police-involved shootings, and criminal allegations against police officers.

What inspired you to choose this career path?

As a Christian, I felt that God was calling me to this profession. I enjoyed helping people, and it seemed like a natural fit. It didn’t hurt that several of my relatives were police officers, including my father, who was a Baltimore City Police Officer.

How did you hear about the Claremont Institute?

Sheriff Mike Lewis (Wicomico County, Maryland) shared his experience at the Sheriff’s Fellowship and nominated me.

What is your fondest memory of the Claremont Institute?

My fondest memory of Claremont was the connection made with the other sheriffs and the depth of knowledge of the instructors.

What do you think will make The Claremont Institute Sheriffs’ Fellowship unique and relevant in the years to come?  

Most sheriffs in the U.S. are elected and take an oath to support and defend the Constitution. It is critically important that sheriffs understand the original intent of our Founders, to abide by the Constitution. The Sheriffs Fellowship is an extraordinary training ground to help protect our Founders’ intentions concerning the rights of our citizens and our responsibilities as elected officials to defend those rights at all costs.

Who would the individual be, and what timeless issues would you discuss, if you could have a sit-down conversation with a historic figure from Maryland’s founding?

I would sit down with Captain John Smith, the English explorer who in 1608 sailed into the great Chesapeake Bay. His writings about the native people, the pristine water, the nature he observed, and the challenges of establishing a colony are captivating.

What would the artifact be, if you could hold one piece of history from the early founding of our country and why?

I think I would want to hold the Declaration of Independence. It’s a document of selfless courage by men who put their lives and fortunes on the line for standing against tyranny.

What qualities do you believe are necessary for effective leadership?

• An effective leader needs a clear and compelling vision.
• They need to hold themselves accountable and take responsibility for their actions.
• Stand by the team when they acted appropriately, even when there is a personal cost.
• One who works daily to earn the respect of the team.
• They need to be a good listener and realize they don’t have all the answers.
• A willingness to accept criticism and adapt when appropriate.
• Delegate, trust those you lead.

What do you believe is the greatest challenge currently facing America?

First and foremost, we need leaders in the home. Many of our homes are broken, and broken homes produce broken people. The government doesn’t do well trying to fix broken people. Parents need to lead in home!

What book, speech, or movie has left a lasting impression on you and why?

Not much comes to mind… ha ha.

Do you have a favorite quote? Why does it resonate with you?

Phil Albert, my college football coach was an extraordinary leader and a tremendous man of God. He had a pretty simple saying that I heard many times, “Every day, you either get better or you get worse. You never stay the same.” I often ask myself after a challenging day, have I gotten better today? Have I gotten better at leading my community, my team here at the sheriff’s office, the relationship with my wife, my children, our God? There are days that I probably don’t get better, but it challenges me for the next day.

What is the most distinctive attribute/character of the people in Maryland’s Talbot County that you genuinely admire?

Talbot County is a mix of hard-working farmers, watermen (folks who make a living catching crabs, oysters, clams, fish, etc.), and many small businesses. Their willingness to help others and their support of first responders here is what stands out to me.

What do you believe are the top three law enforcement issues currently facing America?

1.  Courageous leadership at every level of government is desperately needed. The demonization of law enforcement by many of our elected officials to win votes, as well as the biased press, is destroying our ability to attract and retain qualified recruits nationally. Record numbers of experienced officers left the profession early creating a talent drain as those officers are departing, leading to a shortage of seasoned officers available to mentor and train incoming officers.

2. Many police officers have returned to “reactive policing” instead of “proactive policing” for fear of being the next national news story. Police are answering their 911 calls and then putting blinders on pretending not to see criminality between calls. The repercussions of overreaching police reform have led to a significant curtailing of proactive policing, especially witnessed in our urban settings. This is the reason for the increase in violent crime, not the pandemic. To keep our communities safe, we need to return to proactive policing. Specialized drug, gang and gun units targeting violent offenders proactively in high crime neighborhoods has been proven to drive violent crime down. Proactive policing in the form of traffic stops often leads to a reduction in drunk drivers, drugs, guns, and human trafficking. There are good people in the toughest neighborhoods trying to raise their families. They want and need officers in those neighborhoods arresting violent offenders before they victimize the next family. Police in those areas have pulled back, and many are only responding to their 911 calls because mayors and police chiefs lack political courage.

3. The United States border needs to be secured. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol reports hundreds of persons arrested on the Terrorist Screening Dataset (aka Terrorist Watchlist). Over 100,000 Americans died last year of Fentanyl overdose. Drug cartels are controlling the flow of narcotics and human trafficking at the southwest border. We need our federal government to enforce the laws already in place.

What do the words, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” mean to you?

The founders of our government acknowledged that our God created us with these 3 rights of man given by the creator not given by the government. Anything given by the government could be taken away with the wrong leadership. “No one may rightfully deny us these things. Nor, since they are ‘unalienable,’ may we rightfully surrender them.”

What would you say, if you could communicate one thing to politicians and Americans alike about the importance of policing?

Every politician and American should read Heather Mac Donald’s book, “The War on Cops”. The book is full of data and facts about American policing. She states correctly, “A rigorous analysis of data shows that crime, not race, drives police actions and prison rates.”Our media, politicians, andactivists spread the lie about “hands up don’t shoot” in the Furguson incident before a complete investigation was done and have repeated other lies about policing in the years since. Sadly, the police have reverted to reactive policing because of the lack of political and societal support. No officer wants to be in the next news cycle or incarcerated in the next politically charged prosecution. We need to elect those with the political courage to back our law enforcement officers when they follow the law. Until then, Americans in the toughest neighborhoods will continue to suffer.

What brings you peace of mind at the end of a stressful day?

Spending time with family!