My Main Priorities

As a law enforcement officer, I have learned the importance of many overlooked elected positions such as the Sheriff, Prosecutor, and County Judge. The Sheriff holds a very important role that sets the cadence for law enforcement within the county. Grays Harbor is still small enough that we can all work together to make this the safe place where we want to live and raise our children.

As the Sheriff I will be engaged with the deputies, the prosecutors, and the courts. I will stand on-call administrative duty shifts along with the Undersheriff and Chief Deputies. I will remain available to every individual at the Sheriff’s Office with an open-door policy. Only through working together can we remain a strong and consistent service for the public.

Grays Harbor County is an economically depressed region. As a mayor, I have learned firsthand that the southwest coast goes greatly unrepresented at the state level, not only regarding funding but also policy decisions. As Sheriff, I will work with legislators and lobbying groups to ensure that the voices of Grays Harbor County are heard at the state level.

Throughout my experience I have learned the importance of public meetings. It is the duty of the elected official to ensure they are in positions to receive public comment from the constituents and, when possible, use that information to guide policy and direct resources.

As Sheriff, I will personally attend local block watch meetings. I will work with local mayors to attend city council meetings throughout the County to provide updates with their local police chiefs and receive public comment. I will also engage with County Commissioners to secure a recurring place on their agenda with which to provide a Sheriff’s Office update on activities and needs.

It is my goal to implement a standard training program for all deputies, as well as clear options towards the career path of their choosing.

The first five years of an officer’s career are crucial; this is when habits are formed that shape their approach for the rest of their career. As Sheriff, I will work to create a uniformed training plan that ensures all officers receive the same advanced trainings in the first five years of their career. This approach would help raise the overall level of skill at the department and standardize the level of service the community receives.

Career development is important to think about early in an officer’s employment. We no longer live in a world where a person stays at the same place for 30 years. We need to offer deputies more direction and opportunities. Right now, the Sheriff’s Office has two career paths: patrol deputy or investigations. Which is then followed by very few promotional opportunities. We need to recognize that there is value in having different positions with a variety of skills. I will help create clear career plans and provide an equal path forward with specialty trainings.

In addition to developing our people, we need to develop our facilities. The Sheriff’s Office has been operating out of a temporary portable building and an antiquated jail for over 20 years. While I recognize the current budget constraints, I will work with the County Commissioners to find fiscally responsible ways to improve the working conditions for our deputies.

I am a firm believer in the constitution and the rights of the individual; I also believe that the public deserves to have our laws enforced. It is the responsibility of the Sheriff to ensure that all the laws the public has voted into existence enforced and any violations of those laws are investigated. When a person has the worst day of their life, when their property is violated, when they are assaulted, or when their child is assaulted, it is our responsibility to answer the call and provide them with the most complete justice we possibly can.

Too often I have heard the statement made, “it’s just a property crime.” This is an unacceptable attitude; when the privacy of a person’s home or property is violated it leaves a lasting emotional scar that stays with the victim. I believe that all crimes should be investigated to their fullest and the best possible product provided to the prosecutor for prosecution.

The staffing level of the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office has not changed significantly since 2000. In 2000 the contracted staffing for the Sheriff’s Office was 35, including 26 assigned to patrol and six assigned to investigations. Since then, the population of the unincorporated county has grown by almost 30%. The current staffing of the Sheriff’s Office is 34, with 28 assigned to patrol and six assigned to investigations. This means that Grays Harbor has gone from a ratio of 1.5 officers per 1,000 citizens to 1 officer per 1,000 citizens. The national average is 2.5 officers per 1,000 citizens. While the current state of the county budget needs to be considered, so does the future. As Sheriff I will work with the Commissioners to ensure that the Sheriff’s Office can continue to provide a high level of service to its public.