I am a lifetime resident of Kosciusko County and a 26-year veteran in law enforcement. I have been employed with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department for the past 23 years. I am writing this letter to all of you about some of the tactics that are being used by some sheriff candidates' political campaigns that have been bothering me for quite some time.
Some have been indicating that the citizens of Kosciusko County have not been receiving adequate law enforcement services from the sheriff’s department. I take offense to those types of statements because I know firsthand the services the sheriff’s department does provide to this county on a daily basis. I have not seen a lack of commitment from sheriff’s department employees to complete and carry out their duties for the people of this county.
The sheriff’s department holds all citizens in high regard and believes in going the extra mile to provide the best service in the state by upholding the laws and their constitutional rights. We are the only law enforcement agency that truly services all aspects of law enforcement. Examples of this would be confinement/jail, civil process, service the courts, drug enforcement, patrol duties, criminal investigations, dive and SWAT teams, just to name a few. With all of these performed duties, we still find time to spend time in our communities, to give people a different perspective of the sheriff’s department. Some of these events would include parades, school events, internships and public education programs, with most of these efforts focusing on the children, young adults and elderly people that live within our communities.
Since the campaigns for sheriff have begun, certain candidates have been giving our community members untrue versions of what they believe needs to be fixed with the sheriff’s department. Here are the facts: The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department provides all towns within the county with a law enforcement presence when the town's officers are off duty. This is a service that has been provided to those towns for over 26 years.
The sheriff’s department, to my knowledge, has not refused any law enforcement agency assistance that has been asked for. There have been situations where the county deputies have stopped at a call or traffic stop just to make sure everything was all right and be there to assist if needed. The sheriff’s department has also rendered and/or taken calls in other jurisdictions without hesitation to serve the public without delay. As for the meetings with all of the local law enforcement agencies that certain candidates speak of, wouldn't it be nice to actually include the sheriff’s department? I would think if you are not including the agency in which you are trying to lead as sheriff, this could cause further animosity that is not needed.
Proven leadership is the only way to protect this county from astronomical burdens to you, the taxpayers of this community we live in. I will be voting for that proven leadership on May 8. I will cast my vote for William Rocky Goshert on the 8th of May.
We will continue to carry out our duties to the highest standards of professionalism as humanly possible.
