Sheriff Candidates Answer Your Questions

We had several interesting questions for the Door County sheriff candidates that were left over from the Oct. 21 Peninsula Pulse candidate forum held at Baileys Harbor Town Hall. Eager to get their views out to the public, the candidates graciously answered those questions.

 The questions asked of each are below.

 1. One of the questions received at the Oct. 21 candidate forum but not asked referred to a “rock bottom morale problem” in the department. Is there a morale problem? If so, how do you intend to address it?

Steve Delarwelle (SD):  Recognizing that there are issues with morale within our department, I have a plan to encourage more participation of the employees to have a voice and express ideas towards a common goal. Lack of communication within our department has contributed to a level of frustration. As I have said all along during this campaign, I want to improve communications in the department. I will have an administrative day at least once a month where the administration and first line supervisors will all work a day shift and meet to discuss operations in our department. We will discuss the upcoming month and previous month, what went well and what could be improved. We will update policy and procedure, budget items, training and other concerns. I want to get more people involved in the day-to-day running of the department. Having patrol deputies, jailers and dispatchers share ideas provides a sense of ownership and will increase morale. I will also have the administration work other shifts each month to stay in touch with all employees.

Tammy Sternard (TS):  I currently supervise nearly half of the department and as a leader this is an area I’m always monitoring and actively working on. As far as a “rock bottom morale problem” I would have to disagree based on my interaction with the individuals I supervise. My employees, from the newest deputy to my most senior, are very involved in our operations. They have input in policy and procedure development, staff training, goal setting and the vision for our division. 

There really are two types of morale that play a role in any organization, group morale and individual morale. I believe all members of the organization play an important role and share the responsibility for group morale. It really comes down to people working together for the betterment of all involved. Group morale is defined as “morale is the capacity of a group of people to pull together persistently and consistently in pursuit of a common purpose.” As a team we work together very well, this would be reflected in our most recent jail inspection report from the Department of Corrections where we either met or exceeded all standards. These types of results can only happen when people have a mutual respect for each other and work together as a team. 

As individuals we control our own morale. I think it’s important that people enjoy what they do. Being a law enforcement officer is very demanding on both the officer and his/her family. It’s important that leaders make sure to take the time to offer support to their staff and their family members. Helping officers remain strong physically, emotionally, and spiritually is key to a successful organization.

2. The same questioner said a quota system was recently installed that requires deputies to issue a certain number of tickets or face discipline. Ticket quotas have long been rumored in many communities, and earlier this year Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn signed a bill outlawing ticket quotas in that state. The people of Door County deserve the right to know if there is a ticket quota. If there is a ticket quota, is this a policy you plan to continue?

SD:  We do not have a quota system. There is a high emphasis for deputies to make traffic stops. What is in place is a “performance standard” system which is a directive for patrol deputies to meet a certain number of traffic contacts with the motoring public on a daily, monthly and yearly basis. Deputies must meet or exceed this performance standard. Meeting these criteria weighs heavily on the yearly performance evaluation. With the current administration, if you do not meet these standards, then yes you can be disciplined. I will allow deputies to use their discretion on traffic stops as to whether a citation or warning is appropriate and have an emphasis on traffic safety.

TS:  Our patrol division doesn’t work under a quota system, to my knowledge no employee has ever been disciplined or threatened with discipline related to quotas. The Patrol Lieutenant is responsible for evaluating the performance of those working under him and reports to the sheriff. There are many factors that go into evaluating an employee’s performance. Each division within the sheriff’s office has its own evaluation criteria based on their core job functions, industry standards and the goals of the organization. Deputies have contact on a daily basis with individuals, contacts come in many different forms, due to training and experience, the deputy has discretion. Depending on the circumstances individuals may be issued a citation, warning, vehicle defect, etc. I know deputies are encouraged to be visible and interact with the public as much as possible, but this doesn’t mean it will always result in a negative encounter.

Law enforcement just like any other profession must have set performance standards and employees need to have a clear understanding of what is expected of them. Working together with employees to develop standards helps increase productivity and fosters an environment for employees to succeed. A strong leader knows employee discipline should be the last resort. I believe if an employee isn’t meeting expectations it’s up to the individual’s supervisor and the employee to work together to improve performance.

3. Are there any immediate departmental changes you will make?

SD:  As I have stated in the answer to question #1, improving communication is my first and immediate department change. By being an informed department we will be a more productive department.

TS:  With the retirement of Sheriff Vogel and Chief Deputy the new sheriff will need to select replacements in key areas of the management team. These promotions will be a very important decision for the new sheriff because they will set the tone and direction of the Sheriff’s Office for many years to come. I don’t intend to make any major changes immediately. I plan to conduct an entry evaluation of staff to find out what they believe works, which improvements they suggest and their vision for the department. I would also reach out to community leaders and members to identify what they feel are our strengths and areas they would like to see improvement. Based on the entry evaluation results I would focus on the top five areas of concern and work with the staff and community to develop a plan to address the issues. This may result in adjustments to policy and procedure, shifting of resources and community education. I have used this technique in the correctional and court services divisions and it has proven to be very effective. I understand we can’t change the world in a day. I will prioritize and approach one issue at a time.

4. Do you believe the militarization of the police makes our community safer?

SD:  I’m not really sure what the definition of militarization is. The recent problems in Ferguson, Missouri, have brought this term to the headlines. If you mean procuring equipment that makes for a safer working environment for deputies then, yes I believe it also makes the community safer. Is it wrong for SWAT teams to wear BDUs, bulletproof vests and carry rifles? Is it wrong to get a vehicle that will provide protection to officers entering a high-risk situation where they could be shot at? I don’t believe so. As a 19-year member of the SWAT team I have seen firsthand how these things could save the lives of both officers and the public. As long as proper policies and procedures are in place for its use the public has no reason to be alarmed. The government 10-33 program gives away unused equipment to law enforcement agencies that they cannot afford, due to budget constraints. Most of the items range from computers to bandages. There are weapons issued to some agencies and I do feel that these types of items need more oversight.

TS:  Law enforcement faces new challenges each and every day. I don’t feel the militarization of police is an effective way to address issues within the community. My approach is more focused on community-based policing. This style of policing in my experience has been very positive and allows an agency to focus on working together with the community to address issues in a productive and respectful manner. I will work hard to instill in my staff the importance of strong community involvement and respect for those we protect and serve. I am committed to providing the highest quality law enforcement services to those who live, work and visit Door County. I will work in partnership with the community and strive to maintain the highest level of public safety. I will be committed to cultivating the public trust by respecting individual rights, being fair and just, and responsive to the needs of our community.

5.  What is the No. 1 cause of crime in Door County and what would you do to combat it?

SD:  I believe property crimes such as thefts and burglaries are the most prevalent crimes in Door County. Many times these are a crime of opportunity. I feel the best way to combat this is educating the public and business owners on the best ways to protect themselves and their property. Locking your car and house when you leave them, not leaving valuables in plain view, installing a security system are all common sense things to do. People think that Door County is safe and tend to forget to do these things. I will encourage deputies to aggressively patrol “off the beaten path” and provide security improvements to the public and business owners.

If anyone would like to discuss any of these answers in more detail, I would be happy to visit you personally. Leave a message on my Facebook account and I will get back to you.

TS:  In many cases crimes become a “crime of opportunity.” We are seeing an increase in crimes due to advancements of technology. These crimes come in many different forms, crimes against seniors and children are on the rise. Internet crimes against children are one of the fastest growing issues in law enforcement today. I believe in a proactive approach by staying current with technology and allotting resources to effectively address the issue. We must continue to work with local, state and federal agencies in fighting these crimes. 

The key to effective results is to educate the youth, parents and seniors on how quickly one can become the victim of an internet predator and internet scams. 

I will aggressively combat all criminal activity to ensure Door County is a safe place to live, visit, work, and raise your family. As the world continues to bring us new challenges in law enforcement, I realize the importance of being open to change and new ideas to combat some of these tough issues.