The Hope Lions Club heard a great program Monday (4-20) from Hempstead County Sheriff-Elect Justin Crane. He gave a great program about the sheriff’s department and his law enforcement experience.
Crane grew up in Hope and began with the sheriff’s department as a reserve deputy in 2007. At the time he was working for AMKO at the Hope Airport but after serving as a volunteer he decided to pursue working full-time for the sheriff’s department. He took a $16,000 cut in pay to become a deputy. He was promoted to Corporal in 2009 and promoted to CID in 2012. Crane became a Captain in the Sheriff’s Department in 2023. He said around this time he started thinking about running for sheriff at some point. Crane cited the influence of Jerry Crane’s achievements as well as the achievements of current sheriff James Singleton. Crane called Singleton “one of the finest men I’ve ever worked with”. When Crane shared his ambitions with Singleton, the sheriff began sending him to conferences and classes to get to know his peers in other departments. This included classes in leadership and financial responsibilities.
Crane says he and his deputies will be sworn in after 12am on January 1st and they plan to go right to work patrolling that night.
As far as plans as sheriff, Crane says he wants to get his deputies in the local schools and wants to help the young people learn to make good decisions. Crane noted he works with the “Gentlemen’s Club” at Clinton Primary, a program headed by a teacher there to educate young men and also a similar program at Beryl Henry.
The club had questions for Crane and greatly enjoyed the program from the Sheriff-Elect.
