Editor,

I was a reserve police officer with Seattle Police Department for 41 years and a reserve deputy with Island County for three years, amassing over 12,000 hours in patrol. That would equal six years full time. All together I worked with literally hundreds of officers. I have seen officers I worked the street with promoted up the ladder from sergeants all the way to assistant chiefs. Some made good supervisors, some were terrible, but they passed the testing. Most officers spend their entire careers working the streets and often never test for a supervisory position. Some I worked with had over 40 years on the street. Many of the officers would have made excellent supervisors but enjoyed being on the line, not in the office. Leadership is not something a test can ensure, certainly not something in-house promotions or appointments can confirm. Occasionally, as is the case here, a natural leader who spends much of his career on the street will see a need and step up. That is Lane Campbell, our next sheriff.

I have worked with Lane and he is honest to a fault. He won’t be the politician who tells you what you want to hear, as many in the upper positions are prone to do. He will tell you the truth, even if it hurts and help you through it. Some say Lane is at a disadvantage since he has not been sitting in the office and doesn’t know all the ins and outs. Our current sheriff was an officer from an outside agency who had retired. He managed well enough to be reelected twice. And lastly, one who has been in a leadership position for years will usually speak of their accomplishments. We haven’t heard much from his opponent.

Kurt Pepper

Freeland