Too Few Seek Pierce County Sheriff’s Job

Pierce County Executive Doug Sutherland is expanding the search for a new sheriff because he hasn’t been too impressed with the applications he’s received so far.

The county has gotten just 10 applications in the month that it has advertised for the job. Only five made the first cut - a review by the county’s personnel department.

“Some of those were not as strong as I had hoped to get,” Sutherland said Friday. “I really want a better pool to make comparisons from to make sure I have the best individual.

“I can’t stand in front of the people of Pierce County and say we’ve got the best person for the job, because I haven’t seen many candidates,” Sutherland said. “I’m not sure if my standards and expectations are realistic, or if we really have some outstanding internal candidates.”

Three of the five applicants for the $68,800-to-$92,600 a year job are Pierce County employees.

One is interim Sheriff Mark French.

Sutherland has refused to release the names of the other four applicants.

The job has been open since former Sheriff John Shields resigned in December.

In the first search for applicants, the county advertised in the Pacific Northwest.

Sutherland said he’s instructed the personnel department to advertise throughout the West - “anything west of the Mississippi River.”