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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Challenger Fires Shots At Sheriff Attorney Says Roos Doesn’t Have Enough Deputies, Questions His Professionalism

Attorney Mark Jones holds up a portable phone. The bottom line, he says, is when residents call the sheriff’s department they want to know someone on the other end will come help.

The spiel is part of a tough television ad campaign Jones is waging to try to unseat Bonner County Sheriff Chip Roos.

Roos, the first two-term sheriff here in 20 years, has fired back with radio ads airing before the Rush Limbaugh talk show.

The two Republicans are going toe-to-toe in this month’s primary election, with Roos touting his experience and Jones attacking the sheriff’s management style.

On the other side of the ticket, Democrats Pete Robinson and Dave Morgan are waging a more low-key campaign. Both candidates said they won’t try and pick apart the current department until they have a chance to hold the office and see how things are run.

“I’ve got a lot more experience than anyone else, but I can’t say what changes I would make until I get in there and see for myself what is going on,” Morgan said.

The two Democrats do agree that Roos and the department need to improve communication with residents. Robinson wants to hold monthly meetings in outlying areas and change law enforcement’s “bad guy” image.

“We are peace officers first,” he said. “And I will not make the people of Bonner County any promises in my campaign except to do the best job I can.”

The rhetoric in the Republican race is much stronger, with Jones saying Roos has a top-heavy department, too few deputies and has lost the public’s trust.

“I can put more people on the road without increasing the budget. It’s just a matter of spending the money differently,” said Jones, who worked his way through law school while serving as a deputy under Roos.

At times, Jones said only one officer is on patrol while four administrators are in the sheriff’s office. He pitched the idea of cutting one of three Drug Abuse Resistance Education officers and assigning that deputy to patrol.

“Having three DARE officers in a county this size is ridiculous.”

Jones only understands the patrol division because that is where he worked, Roos said. There are six other departments, including the marine division, dispatch, detectives, juvenile detention and the jail.

Roos and the undersheriff oversee those offices and also pull some road duty, writing tickets and responding to major calls.

Still, Roos hopes to add more deputies. The county applied for a $140,000 federal grant to hire 2 to 4 more officers.

“Right now we can’t put more on the road without neglecting something else,” Roos said.

“After you cut through the smoke and mirrors (from my opponent) and look at what’s real, we’ve produced quite a product here.”

During his tenure in the $35,200-a-year post, Roos opened a juvenile detention center, started a canine unit, the DARE program, and a junior law enforcement and search and rescue program.

“My staff and I have done many things to help control costs and better serve the people of this county.”

The best cost-saving measure, Roos said, is to build a new jail. The county spends more than $350,000 a year housing inmates that won’t fit in its small dilapidated facility.

He also hopes to save taxpayer dollars with an inmate work program this summer that will use prisoners to do manual labor on the roads.

Jones also favors an inmate work program. But instead of a new jail he wants a cheaper minimum security dormitory to house inmates who aren’t a danger to the public.

Jones also criticized Roos for having employees in the marine division and dispatch center with bad manners.

“Citizens are very frustrated. When they pick up that phone and call they get a rude, indifferent response from dispatchers and less than adequate response from deputies because of staffing.”

Jones has also attacked Roos’ professionalism. He recently filed a $1 million tort claim against the county for one of his clients. In the claim, Jones said Roos wrongly gave out confidential information about his client’s mental condition.

Roos said he can’t comment on pending litigation but questioned how taxpayers would feel about a candidate for sheriff who is trying to sue them.

, DataTimes MEMO: These 4 sidebars appeared with the story:

1. DAVE MORGAN Resume: Democrat … retired deputy sheriff from Kitsap County, Wash … 27 years law enforcement experience … graduated from the FBI National Academy in 1977 … office management degree from University of Illinois. Personal: 53 years old, married, two grown children. Issues: Improve relations between the sheriff’s department and the public … make the department more user friendly.

2. MARK JONES Resume: Republican … attorney … public defender in Boundary County … graduated from Gonzaga University law school … Business degree from Lewis and Clark State College … Twelve years experience in law enforcement in Sandpoint and Bonner County. Personal: 35 years old, married. Issues: Put more deputies on the road … cut back the number of DARE officers … build a minimum security dormitory for prisoners instead of new jail … regain public trust in the sheriff’s department.

3. PETE ROBINSON Resume: Democrat … Security guard at Deaconess Medical Center … Fourteen years law enforcement experience with Sandpoint and Bonner County and former corporate security officer in Alaska and Washington … former EMT and volunteer firefighter … member of Human Rights Task Force and 4-H Club. Personal: 47 years old, married, one son. Issues: Better communication between the sheriff’s office and the public … better officer training … involve young people in law enforcement programs.

4. EVAN ‘CHIP’ ROOS Resume: Incumbent Republican … Eight years as Bonner County Sheriff … 19 years law enforcement experience in Bonner County … holds executive certificate (highest in the state) from the Police Officer Standards Training school … attended FBI Command College … deputy coroner 12 years … established the county’s DARE program, canine units and juvenile detention house … set up programs to train youth for search and rescue and law enforcement … president of Idaho Sheriff’s Association … Personal: 47 years old, married, two grown sons. Issues: Build a new jail … start an inmate work program … ensure citizens have dedicated and trained officers to provide for their safety.

These 4 sidebars appeared with the story:

1. DAVE MORGAN Resume: Democrat … retired deputy sheriff from Kitsap County, Wash … 27 years law enforcement experience … graduated from the FBI National Academy in 1977 … office management degree from University of Illinois. Personal: 53 years old, married, two grown children. Issues: Improve relations between the sheriff’s department and the public … make the department more user friendly.

2. MARK JONES Resume: Republican … attorney … public defender in Boundary County … graduated from Gonzaga University law school … Business degree from Lewis and Clark State College … Twelve years experience in law enforcement in Sandpoint and Bonner County. Personal: 35 years old, married. Issues: Put more deputies on the road … cut back the number of DARE officers … build a minimum security dormitory for prisoners instead of new jail … regain public trust in the sheriff’s department.

3. PETE ROBINSON Resume: Democrat … Security guard at Deaconess Medical Center … Fourteen years law enforcement experience with Sandpoint and Bonner County and former corporate security officer in Alaska and Washington … former EMT and volunteer firefighter … member of Human Rights Task Force and 4-H Club. Personal: 47 years old, married, one son. Issues: Better communication between the sheriff’s office and the public … better officer training … involve young people in law enforcement programs.

4. EVAN ‘CHIP’ ROOS Resume: Incumbent Republican … Eight years as Bonner County Sheriff … 19 years law enforcement experience in Bonner County … holds executive certificate (highest in the state) from the Police Officer Standards Training school … attended FBI Command College … deputy coroner 12 years … established the county’s DARE program, canine units and juvenile detention house … set up programs to train youth for search and rescue and law enforcement … president of Idaho Sheriff’s Association … Personal: 47 years old, married, two grown sons. Issues: Build a new jail … start an inmate work program … ensure citizens have dedicated and trained officers to provide for their safety.