Write in Jeff Asher for Sheriff

||| FROM JEFF ASHER, CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY SHERIFF |||

Wow! I am truly taken aback by the outpouring of support encouraging me to run for Sheriff. Thank you all for the calls and texts requesting my participation in the upcoming Sheriff’s election. When I was first asked to consider this opportunity, I was hesitant, as it is not something I take lightly.

As many of you know, I have been commuting between San Juan Island and the Bay Area for the past six years, where I manage executive protection for a well-known CEO. This job keeps me on my feet from early morning until late at night. It has been an incredible opportunity, allowing me to meet people I never imagined I would encounter. I deal with a very large budget and complicated HR guidelines. I oversee the hiring and termination of employees.  I have perfected the scouting, interview process and retention phase to where the agents that work on various details all dovetail together and are in essence a family.  Agents come to work early because they like being at the job site.  This is the way I felt when I first started at the Sheriff’s Office.

Being an Islander

I had to chuckle at one of the recent online comments I read: someone expressed they did not want a Californian in office. Just for clarification, my grandparents have had a place on San Juan Island since the early 1950s, and my parents have been in the community since the 1970s. I raised two boys here and have lived on the island since the early 1980s. My Mother graduated from Roosevelt High in Seattle and my grandfather was one of the original workers for Bill Boeing in Seattle and vacationed at our San Juan residence back in the day.  Despite my long ties to the community, I don’t consider myself an Islander—after all, I don’t have a road named after me! All jokes aside, we all need to be good shepherds and ambassadors of our community.

The Reality

The odds of being elected through a write-in campaign are slim, and honestly, that’s not the path I would prefer. However, I am willing to engage in this grassroots write-in movement with the hope that my message resonates with the community and the eventual Sheriff.

I envision a more successful Sheriff’s office through improvements in the following areas:

1. Oversight and True Transparency

The community deserves to understand how the Sheriff’s office operates and how decisions are made. Transparent practices foster trust and accountability. I like the formation of a citizen’s advisory board.  I believe a past Sheriff has done regular meet and greets which is also valuable.  Keeping the press informed is also important

2. Effective Recruitment and Retention of Employees

We should focus on selecting individuals who are genuinely interested in embracing Island life. Let’s face it: living on the island isn’t for everyone. We want to attract the best officers—those who embody integrity, empathy, active listening and the ability to connect with the community. A great officer is not solely defined by their marksmanship or the number of citations they issue; rather, it’s about their ability to engage with the community in a thoughtful and approachable manner. Through the years I’ve encountered many outstanding deputies, and I’ve learned that officers with diverse life experiences whether it be in construction, the restaurant industry, business owner or overcoming personal struggles—tend to understand the nuances of the law and its real-world implications and How the Letter of the Law is not necessarily the best thing.

3. Outreach and Mental Health Advocacy

Those who have been around me throughout the years know that this topic is close to my heart. Friends, managing what life throws at us can be challenging enough, but when someone is also dealing with a mental health issue, it becomes an even greater struggle. This area deserves to be treated with care and sensitivity.

Many other counties have implemented successful outreach programs for mental health support. In the past, we often had no choice but to bring individuals struggling with mental health issues to the Sheriff’s office. Unfortunately, this approach often led to chaotic situations that did more harm than good, making it difficult for officers to establish future rapport with those individuals.

Working effectively with people facing mental health challenges requires trained professionals who possess a calm demeanor and a clear understanding of the appropriate paths to take. If you haven’t been around someone in distress, it can be quite frightening and alarming. This is precisely when a compassionate, empathetic presence can make a significant difference.

In this era of budget cuts, there is one area where I firmly believe we should not hold back: mental health support. It is vital to prioritize these resources, as they can have a profound impact on individuals and our community.

4. Budget

When it comes to emergency services, certain essentials must be maintained to ensure public safety. Our county, divided by islands, presents unique challenges; officers often rely on boats to traverse these waterways. In critical situations—especially during the late hours of the night—rapid movement of personnel becomes paramount. Ensuring that these assets are kept in top-notch condition is not just important; it is vital.

However, one significant factor that weighs heavily on any budget is employee costs. The Sheriff’s Office, for instance, has developed a notably heavy layer of middle management, which can be expensive to maintain. Given the substantial budget cuts that our county is facing, it is imperative that we reevaluate our current management model. We must ask ourselves: Is this structure truly necessary? 

Do the numerous managers enhance our response times, or do they simply add bureaucratic layers that complicate operations? In the early days of the Sheriff’s Office, the management staff was not as top-heavy. Those in leadership roles actively participated in day-to-day operations. There was no luxury of spending hours in coffee shops; every moment counted because everyone contributed to the mission.

As we consider these questions, we have the opportunity toreshape our approach to emergency services. Striking the right balance between effective management and operational efficiency could lead to improved outcomes for our community without sacrificing the quality of service we provide. Let’s work together to ensure that our emergency services remain responsive, effective, and sustainable.

Summation

I am incredibly touched by the thoughtfulness you’ve all shown by starting this movement. Your heartfelt messages have truly stopped me in my tracks. One person shared with me how I changed their life many years ago, and he reminded me that this isn’t just about having a job; it’s about me doing what is right for our Island community.

Having worked at the Sheriff’s Office for many years, including several years with the San Juan Aid Unit, and now in the private sector I have a unique perspective on the Office of Sheriff. My thoughts are not about cleaning house at the Sheriff’s Office; they are about leading by example and fostering a culture of respect and understanding.

Let me share a story that, like many of you, had a profound impact on my life. It was the late ’70s, and I was driving my VW van with long hair flying in the breeze when I was stopped by the Highway Patrol. The officer ordered me out of the van and began lecturing me about “long-haired hippies.” The reason for the stop was a faulty taillight, but at that moment, I was naïve to the ways of law enforcement.

As the officer continued his tirade, he told me he wanted me to give him a reason to take me to jail, insisting he had the power to do so if he chose. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of fear and helplessness. Eventually, he decided to let me go, instructing me to stand next to my van along the freeway for 30 minutes as a lesson.

That experience stayed with me. I promised myself that if I ever found myself in a position of authority, I would never treat someone the way that officer treated me. It serves as a reminder of the responsibility we all hold to lead with compassion and kindness.

So the end all answer.  Yes I will be on the write in ballot