Turner Has Best Interests of County in Mind

Dear Editor,

My name is Richard Schram, and I have been a full time employee of the Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office since 2003. I began my career as a Corrections Officer in the jail and, in 2004, was promoted to patrol. I have lived in the Prescott, Walla Walla and Burbank communities as a resident deputy.

For years, Sheriff Humphreys ran unopposed and everything was simply status quo within the department, even though the times and neighboring law enforcement agencies around us evolved. Sheriff Turner saw the desperate need to bring us into the current times and acted. However, he has been ridiculed for how he spent the money budgeted to him. Why? The previous administration felt it was acceptable to send us out with expired ballistic vests and told us to carry our personal rifles if we wanted a patrol rifle. Sheriff Turner prioritized giving us up-to-date vests, func- tional uniforms and patrol rifles; to name a few things (all while staying within budget.) We are now better trained, better equipped and safer. Anyone claiming otherwise is intentionally misleading the public.

There have been claims of dissension and poor morale within the Sheriff's Office. During the last election, a division happened that left a few individuals unhappy. These few, who opposed change to the "good ol' boys" Sheriff's Office, are still dissatisfied, never having given Sheriff Turner a chance. It is my observation that the majority of my colleagues enjoy working for Sheriff Turner and morale is good. This majority consist of a solid team who are motivated to serve the citizens of Walla Walla County and happy to do it under Sheriff Turner's leadership.

This letter is not meant to disparage the former administration, only to point out that Sheriff Turner has done more with less while improving the Sheriff's Office for the staff and citizens of Walla Walla County.

I believe Sheriff Turner has the best interest of Walla Walla County and the Sheriff's Office employees in mind and presents himself publicly the same way he operates behind closed doors. I strongly support Sheriff Turner in his fight to make our community safer. Please join me, and the majority of my colleagues, by voting to reelect Sheriff Turner. Richard Schram Burbank