 Kitsap County’s Top Cop, Sheriff Steve Boyer, who is one of the county’s most popular and accessible elected officials, has announced plans to run for re-election this fall.
The 51-year-old Democratic incumbent has showcased a series of law enforcement triumphs since he was elected to run the county’s cop shop three and a half years ago. They include an increase in drug-related arrests and the expansion of WestNET, the West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team — not to mention dropping crime rates.
According to a recent Washington State Sheriff and Police Chiefs Association report, violent crime dropped by 9.6 percent last year while property crime went down by 8.6 percent. Overall, under Boyer, crime has dropped by 8.7 percent. The study compared law enforcement statistics gathered in 2000 and 2001.
Given the proliferation of methamphetamine throughout the county, Boyer says he wants to up the ante for those involved in drug use and drug-related crimes. He plans to establish a four to six person drug interdiction team within the Sheriff’s Office that will focus all its energies on drug crimes. With the use of a $300,000 federal match grant, four new deputies are scheduled to be hired by the end of summer who will replace the more seasoned deputies appointed to the drug unit.
Under Boyer, a 26-year veteran of the Washington State Patrol before being elected sheriff, the number of actual commissioned officers has increased 24 percent, from 99 to 122. He also says he’s very proud of the “unsung heroes” of the department, the corrections staff — a group of law enforcement professionals that has received state and national recognition.
Boyer experienced a bit of controversy last November when members of the Sheriff Deputy’s Guild cast a vote no-confidence in Boyer. The move backfired when Boyer made the vote public and the guild appeared to county residents to be whining about insignificant problems. Relations between Boyer and the guild, which has a long history of labor strife, have since grown less strained, and Boyer seems bent on forging stronger ties.
Boyer and his wife, who have three children in college, have lived in Silverdale since 1985.
Boyer plans to officially kick off his campaign on July 2, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Eagle’s Nest at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. | 