Longtime lawman announces intent to run for York sheriff

A second candidate has announced plans to run for sheriff of York County.

Kevin Tolson, a longtime law enforcement officer and an investigator with the 16th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, announced in a Facebook post Wednesday that he plans to run for the office that will be left open by Sheriff Bruce Bryant, who announced last week that he will not seek re-election in November after holding the office for 20 years.

“My whole career has been in law enforcement,” Tolson said. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to be ever since I can remember as a small child. That would be a pinnacle – a lifelong goal – to be sheriff.”

Tolson has served York County since 1992 as a deputy, a regional agent with the State Law Enforcement Division and an investigator with the solicitor’s office. During that time, he’s also worked on a federal violent crimes task force and directed the York County Multijurisdictional Forensic Services Unit.

If elected, Tolson said one of his goals would be to expand the agency’s focus and expertise on technology and cybercrime.

“Everybody’s life is intertwined with a device in their hand, with a computer or something that’s computer-driven,” he said.

Another focus of Tolson’s would be targeting a rising number of domestic violence cases.

“Our domestic violence laws have changed drastically recently. It’s a very comprehensive law,” he said. “I think we can take a good look at not just how we approach arresting an offender. ... I think we can look at ways of helping to prevent domestic violence, being even more involved as a system.”

Tolson insists his campaign will stand on his own career path, which began before Bryant, who is also his father-in-law, became sheriff.

“I just so happened to have met my wife at the sheriff’s office and we got married,” he said. “I certainly think Sheriff Bryant has brought the department a long way, but Kevin Tolson is his own man. There are some things I may decide to do differently. I appreciate what Sheriff Bryant’s done, but I’m going to run on my record and my experience.”

Michael Scurlock, a former deputy and former NFL player, resigned two years ago from the sheriff’s office when he told Bryant that he was going to eventually run for the sheriff job. Scurlock confirmed to The Herald last week after Bryant’s announcement that he will run for sheriff this year as an independent.

This story was originally published January 10, 2016 at 7:19 PM with the headline "Longtime lawman announces intent to run for York sheriff."