Sheriff’s candidates suggest changes; explain management styles

9/23/03

Peninsula News Network

Clallam County, WA - Budgets, jails and management style. Just some of the topics covered Monday as Clallam County commissioners interview the men who have applied to be the next sheriff.

Commissioners spent more than 2 hours Monday interviewing the three finalists for appointment to the post, and the opening being created by the resignation of Sheriff Joe Hawe.

Soeren Poulsen, Rich Sill and Joe Martin were all named as the top candidates out of a list of 12-applicants by a special screening committee on Friday.

Monday, county commissioners worked through 45 minute interviews with each candidate, working off a prepared list of questions but also interjecting additional questions for each of the candidates.

Poulsen, who ran for the sheriff’s post a year ago, stayed with many of the same goals and objectives he had espoused last fall, ideas like 24 hour police coverage and refined budgets. But he also told the board that he would work carefully to implement those changes, so that they would be accepted by all employees in the sheriff’s department.

Sill was the new face in the process, coming into the process with experience as a police administrator and patrolman in Chino, California. He told the board he’s not planning on seeking election to the post when it goes before voters a year from now, that he would stay focused on performing as an interim sheriff. He told the board he’s a big believer in improving relations with all local law enforcement agencies, including exploration of the idea of cross-deputizing with the local Native American tribes.

Martin, the current Undersheriff, was the first candidate to be interviewed during the day. He’s said he wants to maintain the level of respect that presently exists with the sheriff’s department and expand and build on the programs implemented in Hawe’s administration.

Commissioners might name an appointee as soon as this week.