John on the Issues:

Community Policing:

• I believe that community policing is key to reducing crime and maintaining trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Deputies interacting with their communities and working with them to solve complex crime and social issues are the bedrock for effective policing.

• My top priority as Sheriff is to implement a Community Resource Deputy program, placing a deputy in a geographic neighborhood with the task of becoming an integral part of it. The deputy has the responsibility to know the business owners and residents and to use those relationships to identify and address crime generators. These deputies will also have the skills and knowledge to utilize the entirety of government to address issues, not just traditional law enforcement tools.

Regional & Community Partnerships:

• I will bring regional elected officials, leaders, and community members together by focusing on our shared values to solve the issues of crime, homelessness, mental health crisis, and substance use disorder.

• Our regional partners must provide effective resources to help our citizens suffering from mental health issues and substance use disorders. Unfortunately, many who suffer from these conditions find themselves homeless and without support.

• As Sheriff, I will support programming that holds people accountable for their actions but does so in a manner aimed at helping the individual address the factors contributing to their behavior. Every individual needs a safe place to live, food, and a purpose. If we hold people accountable for their actions but help them address the root cause of their behaviors, we can address the root cause of crime in our neighborhoods.

Ensuring Safe Neighborhoods Through Accountability:

• In my 24 years in law enforcement, I have served in numerous capacities from Patrol Deputy, Detective, to Commander of the Spokane Regional Drug Task Force, and as a Member of the Executive Command Staff. This experience makes me qualified to ensure that our Sheriff's Department is keeping our community safe day in and day out.

• We all want freedom and the ability to pursue our goals and dreams. We understand each of us has a responsibility to obey the law in our pursuits and we must all be accountable to the law. Without accountability for our actions, disorder ensues.

• We have seen this too many times in our Spokane community and it's time that we bring accountability back to address this.