Door County Sheriff Primary Candidates

Four Republican candidates for the office of sheriff will face off in the Aug. 12 primary. The primary winner will face Democratic candidate Tammy Sternard in the Nov. 4 general election. As we approach the November election, we’ll have more details from the primary winner and Sternard. In the meantime, you can read more about area and statewide candidates at vote411.org.

STEVE DELARWELLE

What separates you from the other Republican candidates in the primary election?

I have 23 years of experience on the Sheriff’s Department. During that time I have been a jailer/dispatcher, patrol deputy, patrol OIC (officer in charge) and currently a patrol sergeant. I am currently on the SWAT team and have been for 19 years. My other duties include field training officer, weapon armorer and snowmobile patrol coordinator. I have an associate’s degree in criminal justice, a certificate in first-line supervision from UW– Platteville and advanced line supervision training. I consider it a privilege to serve the county where I have lived my entire life and look forward to continuing to ensure the safety and security of the citizens and visitors as your sheriff.

What challenges do you perceive facing the department?

The Sheriff’s Department has limited means to raise revenue. The most significant way to affect the budget is the housing of outside prisoners. The department has always and will continue to look for ways to house state and other county prisoners.

We could potentially pursue being a host department for various state trainings. Door County has an abundance of high-quality resorts to hold these events. The benefit would be free training for the host department and also increased visitors/revenue for the county.

Drugs are a challenge for every department. The fact that heroin deaths are starting to occur in Door County should open everyone’s eyes. The war on drugs is not going to be won just by investigation and arrests. Education is needed. I would build upon our 5th grade DARE program by having our drug investigators and drug recognition experts conduct presentations in the schools, for both the students and their parents.

School safety will always be a concern for our department. Getting all schools on board for specific training for school violence should be a priority. Schools have monthly fire drills, yet there has not been a child killed by fire in a school in over 50 years. Why would you not have drills for school violence?

What is the greatest challenge to policing Door County?

One of the biggest challenges is to provide adequate coverage and service to all parts of the county. Due to our geographical situation, we only have the luxury of one other county on our border to call for assistance. I believe that by forging close and strong relationships with the Sturgeon Bay Police Department, Department of Natural Resources, Fire Departments, and the Coast Guard, we can work together to provide a safe and secure community.

If you had a campaign theme song, what would it be?

Bachman-Turner Overdrive, “Takin’ Care of Business”

JEFF FARLEY

What separates you from the other Republican candidates in the primary election?

I started my 32-year law enforcement career in 1982. Twenty-eight of those 32 years have been here with the Door County Sheriff’s Department. Two of those years were spent as a jailer/dispatcher, the next 12 years were on the road as a patrol deputy. During those 12 years, I was on the department’s SWAT Team, became a Defense and Arrest Tactics Instructor, the department armorer and a Field Training Officer for all new patrol deputies. From patrol I was promoted to Juvenile Investigator/DARE Officer, then Investigative Sergeant, and then to Jail Administrator. It was my responsibility to oversee the completion of the new correctional facility, including developing policy and procedures, new staffing guidelines and assuring a smooth transition from the old jail to the new one. In 2007, I advanced to Field Service Lieutenant where I lead the Patrol Division, Investigative Division and Reserve Unit. It is my responsibility to oversee all field activities involving law enforcement that occur within the county, as well as handle personnel, write grants and manage the budget.

My years of service, positions held, work ethic, duties and responsibilities give me a unique skill set and a solid, fundamental base no other candidate has.

In addition, I am running a self-funded campaign.

Why do you want to be sheriff of Door County?

It has been my privilege to have served under several sheriffs; the late LeRoy Klein, Charles Brann and Terry Vogel. Each one building on the Door County tradition of professionalism and dedication in serving our community. My goal is to continue to provide the high quality law enforcement, you the people of Door County, have come to expect.

Together we can work to keep Door County a safe community. One where we still feel secure at night and are not afraid to walk around and enjoy the beauty this county has to offer.

That is why I am running for the position of sheriff, so that I can do everything possible to keep Door County a safe place to live and raise a family.

What challenges do you perceive facing the department?

Technology changes daily and the department struggles to keep up. Twitter and Facebook have replaced the typed formal press release that used to be sent out to the media concerning a major event. Society now wants and should be informed immediately while the incident is occurring and not hours later. For the Door County Sheriff’s Department this is a major change in practice to report events by the use of social media. Not all deputies are comfortable with this but that is where training comes into play.

Training is now more specialized in nature, deputies are taught the basics in recruit school but that is not enough to do the job that is being asked of them, especially regarding technology. Changing technology now requires departments to send deputies to school to learn such things as software availability and use on extracting information from cell phones, social media policy and procedures, Internet usage – crimes against children, identify theft – investigation and prosecution.

Department Policy and Procedures need to be continually reviewed and updated to correspond with changing technology. In other words, departments must keep up with modern times in order to effectively investigate, apprehend and prosecute the modern-day criminal.

What is the greatest challenge to policing Door County?

The greatest challenge to policing Door County is our location and the sheer volume of people that the summer season brings into a concentrated area. We are surrounded by water from Sturgeon Bay north. Unlike other counties, we are unable to request assistance from any surrounding law enforcement jurisdictions. Staffing levels remain constant year round, law enforcement does not add on additional deputies for the summer season. Requests for additional services during the peak summer season is on a continual and steady rise. More and more large events are taking place within the county on any given weekend. Many of these events take a significant percent of the Sheriff’s Department staff in order to insure a safe and trouble-free event. Patrols are redirected into the high volume area for visibility, deterrence and enforcement action if needed. What happens though, when these patrols are redirected, is other areas of the county receive less patrol, less coverage, slower response times. It’s a fine line that must be balanced assigning the proper number of patrol deputies for these large events but still having safe and sufficient coverage for the rest of the county.

If you had a campaign theme song, what would it be?

“American Soldier” by Toby Keith (replacing the word “Soldier” with “Law Enforcement Officer”)

CHRIS NEUVILLE

What separates you from the other Republican candidates in the primary election?

My passion for the job sets me apart from the other Republican candidates. I have given numerous presentations to adults and children in regards to Internet safety, bullying, drug and alcohol abuse, etc., which are just a few examples of my passion for the job.

Why do you want to be sheriff of Door County?

I want to be Door County’s next Sheriff so I can build off of the excellent work that Sheriff Vogel has done over the years. My vision for the Sheriff’s Department includes a lot more educational programs being offered to the community. I am a firm believer that more education will translate to us living in a safer community.

What challenges do you perceive facing the department?

Sheriff Terry Vogel has done an excellent job with organizing and preparing personnel employed by the Door County Sheriff’s Department. I have visited other departments and I feel we probably have one the best departments in the state. I would, however, like to see more deputies receive specialized training in the areas of technology, crimes against children, and crimes against the elderly. With specialized training comes a cost, but I believe that the citizens of Door County deserve the best and that there are ways of offsetting these costs by pursuing grants.

What is the greatest challenge to policing Door County?

Illicit drug and alcohol abuse, in my opinion, pose the greatest challenge to law enforcement agencies everywhere. Currently, heroin seems to be a drug that is gaining popularity. As I write this, I am researching a program called S.T.O.P., which stands for Support Teaching Opiates Prevention (heroin is an opiate). This program caught my eye when Republican Attorney General Candidate Brad Schimel recently proposed it. Less illicit drug use and alcohol abuse will equate to less crimes in general, which is a good thing for everyone.

If you had to pick a campaign theme song, what would it be?

“Just Like Paradise” by David Lee Roth (lead singer of Van Halen). In this music video, David Lee Roth’s “Paradise” is rock climbing and performing on stage. My “paradise” is Whitefish Dunes State Park, Peninsula State Park, Washington Island, Door County farms, etc. When you think about it, Door County is definitely “Just Like Paradise”!

CARL WATERSTREET

What separates you from the other Republican candidates in the primary election?

I believe I am the most well-rounded candidate. With 35 years of public safety experience and involvement, I have the experience in all aspects of public service to know how to work cooperatively with fire departments, EMS and law enforcement personnel. Additionally, I have life experiences outside of public safety. I am a Wisconsin licensed plumber, and I hold certificates in the trades. Furthermore, I serve the Township of Gardner as a town board supervisor.

Why do you want to be sheriff of Door County?

My striving goal to be Sheriff of Door County began when the Door County Sheriff’s Department hired me in 1991. My passion and commitment to serve the public has led me to where I am today. After running as a Sheriff’s candidate in 2000, I believe I have developed the ideals, experience and leadership to lead the Sheriff’s Department into the future.

What challenges do you perceive facing the department?

One of the challenges that faces the Door County Sheriff’s Department and law enforcement as a whole is the growing problem with drug trafficking and drug use. As Sheriff of Door County, I want to revive a K-9 program through no cost to the taxpayers. The K-9 program will be funded through grants, donations and other fundraising efforts.

Another problem locally is Internet crimes against children (“ICAC”). With the loss of one investigator to the Brown County Sheriff’s Department, Door County will need to train someone to assume this vacant role. This person will need to dedicate his full attention to this program – not a 9 to 5 position – to ensure the safety of the community and the community’s youth.

What is the greatest challenge to policing Door County?

I believe the greatest challenge to policing Door County is the coverage in the county. Door County is over 70 miles long and the coverage for law enforcement personnel is a safety concern, especially during the summer months. I propose to work with our staff to increase our coverage to help with the increasing call volume, as well as the increase of population in our county during the peak tourist season. I would utilize reserves and other Sheriff’s Department personnel to staff the extra hours needed to fill the coverage needed.

If you had to pick a campaign theme song, what would it be?

The words and meaning associated with “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor reflect my life values. My ever relentless striving to be the best in life has carried with me into public service. My dedication and commitment to serve the public is embodied in the song. The “Eye of the Tiger” reflects my dedication to lead with integrity, perseverance and principle.