Victor McCraw for Ada County Sheriff

Ada County’s population growth presents an immediate opportunity to engage in effective evidence-based law enforcement strategies and collaborate with community partners to improve public safety, and to safeguard the rights of every citizen. This opportunity will requires the prudent and responsive enforcement of laws in a manner which vigilantly safeguards the persons, property, and quality of life of our residents and visitors to our county.

With population growth comes increased diversity; and with diversity comes new possibilities to build upon the collective strengths that define southwest Idaho. Upholding the constitutional promise of equal protection under the law, in the face of change, will preserve everyone’s freedom to live and prosper in Ada County. Our success will depend, more than ever, upon the noble work of the Deputies of the Ada County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO).

As Ada County Sheriff, my primary responsibilities will be to lead, support, and develop ADA County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) Deputies as they carry out their duties and serve the community. Evidence-based best practices in operations, training, resource deployment and transparency are keys to success.

As the ACSO website states, “The Ada County Sheriff’s Office is committed to giving every citizen the best possible service. Our main goal is to ensure Ada County is a safe place to live, work, and play.” As Ada County Sheriff, I will lead based on my sincere belief that the true effectiveness of any organization lies in the deliberate and mindful alignment of what it does, with what it values and believes. This is the challenge. This is the opportunity. This is the time.

As Ada County Sheriff, I will draw upon over three decades of real world experience spent solving dynamic challenges, often in critical circumstances. My expertise is hard-earned, the result of both successes and lessons learned.

I have earned extensive certifications over my career, including disciplines like crisis negotiator, SWAT medic and certified emergency paramedic, use of force instructor, FEMA incident command, and many others. These are not idle accomplishments. I have applied my professional training is dozens of formal and special assignments, which include:

• Highway Patrol Trooper and Sergeant;
• State Police Academy Drill Sergeant;
• SWAT Team Negotiator and Tactical Medic;
• Air Rescue Helicopter Paramedic Sergeant;
• Highway Patrol district commander in metropolitan Phoenix (5th largest US city);
• Senior NFL Public Safety Official for the Arizona Cardinals;
• State Police Operational Training Commander, and;
• Executive Officer of the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy.

I have a unique and specific insight into Idaho law enforcement from my 3.5 years as Division Administrator (Director) of Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training, commonly referred to as Idaho POST. In this role, I directed the training and certification of approximately 600 new peace officers annually, while ensuring and enforcing continuing education requirements for the ongoing certification of 6,000 in-service personnel in over 200 Idaho state, county, city, and tribal agencies. I gained a national perspective of law enforcement professionalism by serving on the executive board of the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) as Western Regions Representative, and 2nd and 1st Vice President.

As Ada County Sheriff, developing transparency and responsiveness in partnership with community members will be a priority. My volunteer and consulting experience investigating criminal justice and other civil rights complaints in the Treasure Valley have given me a perspective of law enforcement from the point of view of persons and segments of our community who are frequently overlooked. Citizens find themselves marginalized and fearful, too often left without a voice in the important decisions being made about how they are policed, and how their personal freedoms are (or are not) being protected. As a charter school board member, I am aware of the current challenges faced by young students and parents, and concerns about school safety and opportunities to make independent value-based decisions on how families are cared for and raised safely. I have worked my entire career, at every rank and position, to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and communities traditionally underrepresented in local decision making. As Sheriff, I will continue this work.

It is important to remember that although the Ada County Sheriff’s Office is a public service organization, its internal constituents, the dedicated Deputies, and professional staff, must not be left without meaningful engagement from the Sheriff and county leadership. Compensation, equipment, and staffing are important considerations; but benefits, mental and physical wellness, organizational culture, equity, and inclusion are also important. We recruit and hire the very best people we can find. We hold them to high professional and ethical standards. And then we expose them to some of the most demanding, dangerous, and horrific situations you can imagine. It is critical to maintain their physical and mental wellbeing – for their sake, as well as for those they serve.

During years of volunteer executive board service, which included President of the Arizona Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), and 2nd Vice President of the Maricopa Chapter of the National Latino Peace Officers Association (NLPOA), I learned valuable lessons about establishing, repairing, and maintaining professional relationships between law enforcement and communities, and between leadership and employees. I intend to put this experience to good use in caring for the ACSO employees and supporting them as they in turn care for our citizens in their most vulnerable times of need.

In the words of one of my favorite authors, “There is no power greater than a community discovering what it cares about. Ask ‘What’s possible?’ not ‘What’s wrong? – Keep asking’” (Margaret Wheatley).