Reelect Sheriff Bill Brown

A native of Santa Barbara County, I spent 34 years with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, retiring as a chief deputy. As Election Day is upon us, I and many current and retired command and executive staff at the Sheriff’s Department want to make it clear to voters how unqualified Sheriff Brown’s challenger is. The office of Sheriff is a complex and challenging position. His challenger is an inexperienced first-line supervisor, a sergeant with no middle management, command, or executive level experience. She does not have a college degree nor is she eligible for the Command College.

Although the sergeant’s position is one of the most important in the department, sergeants hold deputies accountable to the mission of the department, to policy and procedure, and to the laws of the state. Standing between that position and Sheriff are the ranks of lieutenant, commander, chief deputy and undersheriff. With each rank comes the responsibility to contribute at a much higher level to the operation of the department. It is unrealistic and perhaps more than arrogant for Sheriff Brown’s challenger to think she has the training, education, and experience to be Sheriff.

Bill Brown has done an excellent job in trying fiscal times. Although I now live in Idaho, I am following this race closely and travel to Santa Barbara County several times a year. In April I met with Bill Brown for lunch. He outlined a very impressive strategic plan to address public safety issues in his next term. The safety of Santa Barbara County residents hangs in the balance with this election. I urge you to reelect Sheriff Bill Brown.