10/20/2026
A resident asked me yesterday, "How will you strengthen public trust as Sheriff?"
I believe public trust is earned through a Sheriff's Office that is deeply connected to our communities, accessible to residents, responsive to concerns, and committed to keeping the public informed.
Here is my commitment to strengthening public trust in Walla Walla County:
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & CONNECTIONS
I want deputies actively building relationships in every community throughout Walla Walla County. That means being visible in our neighborhoods, stopping to talk with residents, engaging with local business owners, attending community events, and taking the time to listen. It also means making an effort to connect with residents who may have had fewer opportunities to build relationships with law enforcement.
I want every resident not only to be safe, but to feel safe in their community and comfortable approaching their Sheriff's Office for help. Building those relationships before an emergency occurs helps us better understand community concerns, identify problems early, and work together to address them.
OPEN & TIMELY COMMUNICATION
Ultimately, the elected Sheriff sets the expectations and direction for what information our office shares with the public and how it is communicated. In my current role, I operate within those established policies and expectations. Final authority over public information releases rests with the Sheriff.
As Sheriff, that responsibility will be mine. I will work to ensure our office shares timely information about critical calls, operations, policies, and executive decisions whenever legally appropriate.
With the transition to encrypted radio communications, proactive communication through our public information channels and local media is more important than ever to keep our community informed. This will require the implementation of a different Public Information Officer program in our organization and multiple supervisors getting trained to collaboratively deliver a consistent message.
DIRECT ACCESSIBILITY
I currently maintain an open-door policy with our deputies, and extend that same accessibility to the public. Throughout this campaign, I have met with every resident who has requested a conversation with me. I have attended every candidate forum I was invited to and have been actively involved in community events throughout Walla Walla County, making myself available to answer questions, listen to concerns, and connect directly with residents.
Prior to this campaign, I have attended or organized deputy presence at every community event and fundraiser we were invited to or knew about. There is record of this on our agency page for well over a decade. That commitment to being accessible and engaged with our communities will not change as Sheriff.
I will hold regular Sheriff's Roundtables throughout the county and welcome one-on-one conversations, phone calls, and direct feedback from residents. I will be out of the office in uniform regularly, to help our deputies and meet with people, as I always have been.
My commitment is to lead a Sheriff's Office that is connected, accessible, transparent, and responsive to the people of Walla Walla County. That is how we strengthen public trust and make our communities safer.
As ballots begin arriving in mailboxes across Walla Walla County, I respectfully ask for your vote for Sheriff.
