The following is from Pat Arotin, the unaffiliated candidate to become Mesa County Sheriff. Please take the time to read it and give thoughtful consideration to helping an experienced, ethical man take the reigns at the MCSO. Thanks. As the unaffiliated candidate for Mesa County Sheriff, I have read with interest the news and social media coverage of my likely opponent in November’s election, State Senator Steve King. As a career peace officer and military veteran I have been at times angry, amused and deeply concerned by what has been revealed regarding Mr. King’s behavior while employed at the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and prior to that as an elected legislator. There is little doubt candidate King falsified documents for personal gain. When confronted with evidence showing he had done so, he was insubordinate and confrontational with his superiors. Further, he was not truthful in his response to the investigation and put Sheriffs Spiess and Hilkey in the unenviable position of having to request candidate King seek employment elsewhere. This was all the more difficult as only weeks before Sheriff Hilkey had endorsed King in his bid to become Mesa County Sheriff. Candidate King has gone on to call the incident a “bump in the road.” That bump led to a “Brady letter” being delivered to the District Attorney detailing Mr. King’s having lied in an official proceeding. Brady letters are a bit confusing to those outside law enforcement, and thus many may not know the significance of a peace officer having such a letter placed in his file. Brady v Maryland was a Supreme Court Case that stemmed from a challenge to the conviction of a suspected murderer in Maryland. In that case evidence was intentionally withheld from the defense. The Supreme Court ruled that withholding the evidence violated the due process clause of the 14th Amendment. Since that ruling, peace officers who have lied in an official capacity have been termed “Brady cops” and “Brady letters” detailing the incidents are sent to the District Attorney. A Brady letter all but ensures a peace officer will be unable to credibly testify in court as the letters are made available to defense council. The defense can then quite easily discredit the officer, showing he has a history of lying. A discredited deputy would certainly make a poor sheriff. As a 15 year veteran police officer and deputy, with over 8 years service at the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, I am concerned Mr. King would show such disregard for the office he would lead and the men and women he would supervise as sheriff. To manipulate a position generously created for him in an agency struggling with yearly budget cuts demonstrates a callous indifference to the hardships faced by those he would lead. Leaders look to the well-being of those they lead first. They do not seek personal gain at the expense of their subordinates. It was Mr. King’s lack of true leadership ability and his questionable legislative record that led me to run as an unaffiliated candidate for Mesa County Sheriff. I believe the citizens of Mesa County and the hard working employees of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office deserve strong, principled, ethical and experienced leadership. They deserve a sheriff dedicated to continuing the proud tradition of skilled, motivated and honorable service the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office has provided in the past. My heart is with the citizens of this county and those that serve them. The role of a peace officer in this nation is unique among all public service positions. People look to their deputies and officers in times of dire need. They depend on them for protection and for enforcement of what society has determined will be the rules we live by. They have the right to expect honor, dignity, unassailable character and self-sacrifice in their public servants, particularly those who wear a badge and gun. Such character must be demonstrated in the top position in any law enforcement agency. No agency led by a man shown to be untruthful and to have put personal gain above ethical leadership can well serve its community. I believe I can provide the principled, ethical, experienced leadership the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office needs as it faces the difficulties of serving a diverse community in times of shrinking budgets while preserving the rights guaranteed in our state and federal constitutions. I understand the unique role a county sheriff plays in preserving those freedoms. I will ensure the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office can, when appropriate, work in cooperation with federal agencies, with a clear understanding of the limitations of their authority. In contrast, Mr. King on multiple occasions as a legislator sought to grant more broad and ill-defined authority to federal agents working in Colorado. A sheriff is not serving his community when he is willing to cede his authority to federal control. My professional life has been dedicated to the service of my nation and my local community. My military service and career in law enforcement have shown me the critical importance of strong, principled leadership. I have dedicated myself to becoming a leader worthy of the men and women I would supervise. It is my sincere wish to continue that service as the next Mesa County Sheriff.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 02:32:21 +0000
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