I have over 20 years law enforcement experience, retired from a large sheriff's office, and most recently worked in post-retirement as a deputy for the Waldo County Sheriff's Office.  My knowledge and experience give me a unique perspective of the Waldo County Sheriff's Office not available to the general public. 

I believe there are significant issues within our Sheriff's Office that have been vastly ignored by Jason Trundy, the current Chief Deputy of Law Enforcement Operations, and that can only be resolved by someone coming in from the outside. 

The turnover rate at the Sheriff's Office has been dismal, with at least 12 of the rank and file leaving the agency since 2017.  Their reasons for leaving were varied, but one common reason expressed to me has been the lack of support and poor communication from executive staff. 

Waldo County has had to resort to paying a $15,000 signing bonus to attract approximately six replacement deputies for the ones who most recently left the agency.  There is a problem when more of your patrol deputies leave the agency than stay.  But rather than acknowledge and correct the problem, they just placed a $15,000 band-aid on the gaping wound.   

Jason Trundy claims to have extensive law enforcement experience, but much of that experience has been in corrections.  His focus seems to be on the Reentry Center and County Garden by spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to manage and promote this project. 

While the Garden is a worthwhile endeavor, I believe there are changes that can be made to make it more fiscally responsible.  County taxpayers fund part of this "rehabilitation" program with dollars that could be better utilized to prevent crime here inside our county.  

It was recently brought to my attention that Jason Trundy stated he does not believe in arrest and incarceration. 

The Sheriff is the chief Law Enforcement Officer of the county.....law enforcement officer.  Waldo County needs a Sheriff who is tough on crime, relentless in his pursuit of criminals, and  willing to leave the offender's disposition and rehabilitation to the purview of the courts, correctional system, and social services where it belongs.  We've all seen what has happened nationwide during the past several years in locales where criminal activity was not kept in check by proactive law enforcement practices.  Waldo County residents deserve to feel secure in their homes and communities and deputies need to know their leaders will support them when they make split second decisions while protecting those residents.    

I've read some of the editorials supporting Jason Trundy.  The common thread in them is that he is active in the community.  That is true.  But those extracurricular activities have redirected his focus away from his responsibilities as Chief Deputy for Law Enforcement Operations and towards promoting his public image. 

Just because someone is active in the community does not make them a good leader.  His endorsements come from people with little or no personal knowledge of his professional abilities or work ethic.  If you want to know about those, ask a family member of a deputy who works for him.  Or better yet, ask one of the twelve deputies who left the Sheriff's Office since 2017 about his leadership abilities.   

In today's turbulent world, we need a Sheriff who stands by his principles to protect his citizens and not a politician who changes political parties to bolster his vote.  Todd Boisvert is the right person for the office of Sheriff, not because he's conservative or a Republican, but because he has demonstrated his commitment to enforcing the law, while at the same time treating offenders with fairness , compassion, and respect.  

I believe his proven leadership skills along with the wealth of knowledge and experience he brings from previous positions are exactly what the Waldo County Sheriff's Office needs, and the residents of Waldo County deserve.   

Todd Boisvert has my full support for Sheriff. 

David Wight lives in Frankfort