Pubdate: Thu, 07 Sep 2006
Source: Lake County News Chronicle (MN)
Copyright: 2006, Murphy McGinnis Media
Contact:  http://www.twoharborsmn.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3272

SHERIFF CANDIDATE FORUM

Richard DeRosier

I have spoken with many county residents during my  campaign and am
confident we share the same concerns  for the future of Lake County.
We want safer  communities in which to live and raise our families. We
 want deputies to respond in a timely manner and follow  through with
each and every case. We want to rid our  communities of drug use and
the devastation it causes.  We want all this done in a cost effective
manner.

I have dedicated my career to fighting the drug problem  that is
causing such devastation to our county. Drug  abuse training and
education will continue to be a top  priority. I am the narcotics
investigator for a reason  and currently head the multi-agency North
Shore Drug  Response Team. I will support the creation of a drug 
court program as another option to help rehabilitate  drug offenders.
I will also lobby state and federally  for increased funding.

Budget issues will become more of a challenge. I will  actively seek
grants and other sources of funding to  offset the burden to the
taxpayer. Overtime and capital  expenditures need to be watched. I
have shown fiscal  responsibility by applying for and receiving
grants,  and have managed finances for drug task forces for over  10
years. As a City of Silver Bay councilman, I have  gained experience
overseeing budgets on a city level.

I've lived in all four corners of our county and will  see that all
areas receive the same level of commitment  from their sheriff.

Carey Johnson

Drugs/Methamphetamines

As a department, we need to be more aggressive. We  aren't doing
nearly enough. We need more arrests and  convictions, especially of
our local dealers. We need  to keep both the K-9 and drug
investigator's positions,  but we need to change our approach. Our
officers need  more training so that we are better equipped as a 
department to attack this problem head on.

Youth/Community Education

We are doing a good job in educating our youth and  community members,
but there is room for improvement.  All of our children must be taught
DARE. If our  residents are more aware of what is going on, we can 
have more of a team approach in dealing with this  problem. If we work
together, we can make a much larger  impact.

School Liaison

I have always felt very strongly that we should have an  officer in
our schools. I tried to get one in  Springfield as chief, and I really
wanted to see one  here. Due to budget constraints, however, we were 
unable to get one. I would seek grants to add officers  to our
schools, in order to give our children a more  secure environment as
well as help with drug awareness  and other safety programs.

Community Policing

We need to return the separate duty stations to Silver  Bay and Fall
Lake. This will greatly improve response  time and patrol coverage to
these areas, which will  inevitably make both our residents and our
deputies  safer in emergency situations.

Jerry Norberg

My name is Jerry Norberg and I am seeking the office of 
sheriff.

Our county faces a number of challenges. The most  important law
enforcement challenge is methamphetamine  abuse. Meth is ruining
people's lives. I have conducted  drug investigations for 13 years and
will use that  experience as sheriff. I plan to add another K-9 unit 
to Lake County. I would also send all deputies to  narcotics
investigation training that emphasizes  methamphetamine
investigations. Every deputy will be  pro-active in drug
investigations. Public meetings will  continue.

I have a plan to put a liaison deputy in our schools  two days a week
to start to establish a relationship  between the schools and the
sheriff's office. I will be  in our schools personally. We have to
find funding to  secure a deputy full-time in our schools. I will 
research grant monies that may be available to fund the  position.

Budget issues continue to be a challenge in Lake  County. I will
continue working with the Lake County  board in keeping the budget in
check. I will continue  to scrutinize every purchase to assure we
remain within  our budget.

Lastly, I have a plan to even out the coverage in  Silver Bay and Fall
Lake without undue tax burden.  Response times will be reduced under
this plan. Work  stations will be reestablished.

I have 20 years experience with Lake County. Being the  current
undersheriff, I see many challenges and have  specific plans to meet
these challenges.

Thank you.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin