Pubdate: Sun, 21 May 2000 Source: Times-News, The (ID) Copyright: 2000 Magic Valley Newspapers Contact: P.O. Box 548, Twin Falls, ID 83303 Fax: (208) 734-553 Feedback: http://www.magicvalley.com/submit.html Website: http://www.magicvalley.com/ Author: Ray M. Koyle VOTE FOR PROGRESSIVE LEADER Having served in the military police following a tour of duty in Vietnam, the Cassia County sheriff campaign issues of training, drug prevention and program funding hold particular interest to me. It is encouraging to see four primary candidates with the desire to serve our county. One of these candidates has all of the credentials to be an excellent sheriff. Dennis Dexter is committed to the highest standards of personnel and departmental training. He has amassed 3,023 hours of personal training through the Idaho POST Academy and is a recipient of that council's executive certificate. He is one class away from obtaining a college degree in management. As the director of the joint county adult detention facility, Dexter challenges his staff to participate in twice the annual training mandated by the Idaho Jail Standards. This candidate helped establish the Scuba Dive Team program in Cassia County. Dexter was an initial member of the Tactical Team, receiving FBI "Sniper" training. These are just a few of the many examples of his commitment to training. Drugs have had a devastating impact on our society. Today's drugs are easier to get and more addictive. As a patrolman and detective, Dexter has been actively involved in the protection of our area from drug importation and manufacturing. Dexter was the first co-coordinator, with Howard Elliot of the Twin Falls city police, in the initiation of the Magic Valley Drug Task Force that included the law enforcement of six cities and four counties. Coordinating with the Idaho Bureau of Narcotics and the U.S. attorney's office, this task force obtained convictions of area residents that was then labeled as "the state's biggest cocaine haul." As the detective commander, Dexter supported his lead detectives in a tri-state effort that netted the confiscation and destruction of more than 2,500 marijuana plants during 1986 alone. Finally, may I mention money? As the director of the joint detention facility, Dexter has been very aggressive in finding inmates from other jurisdictions to be housed in the Mini-Cassia facility. The resulting annual revenue averages between $800,000 and $1 million, amounting to almost two-thirds of the facility's annual budget. Cassia County has the need for progressive leadership. We have a dedicated, progressive leader in Dennis Dexter. May we have pride in our community by having the integrity to study the qualifications of the candidates and the guts to vote on May 23. RAY M. KOYLE Burley - --- MAP posted-by: greg