‘Plans Include An Open-Door Policy’

COVERLETTER

I want to be your sheriff! I have served with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department for over 24-1/2 years, in almost every facet of operation, management and administration. I have been mentored and promoted by Sheriffs Reilly, Erickson and Goldman. I know the Sheriff’s Department and I know Spokane County.

I am committed to community-oriented policing. As your sheriff, I expect to execute programs, uniting citizens and law enforcement to proactively address issues that enhance the safety and quality of life for the citizens we are sworn to protect - and it won’t raise taxes! My plans include an open-door policy and citizens advisory boards. I will be an “at-home, hands-on” sheriff, traveling to Olympia only when necessary to protect the interests of the citizens of Spokane County.

The reduction of crime and the fear of crime in Spokane County are my objectives through proactive law enforcement. I propose to work collaboratively with citizens to suppress crime - before it happens. When it does, I will insist that we, 1) respond on time, 2) do the right thing, and 3) do it right the first time. Citizens must be treated with due respect and crime with proper retribution.

Leadership, trust and pride are achieved through teamwork and mutual respect among managers and employees, in partnership with the community. I am intent upon restoring employee pride and satisfaction to our department and regaining a service-oriented and trustworthy force deserving of respect.

The office of the sheriff is a law-enforcing, not a law-making, vocation. Please become informed - vote for law-enforcement - not politics.

This sidebar appeared with the story: RESUME OF JIM FINKE (DEM) Personal Born Dec. 23, 1951, in Spokane. Lifelong resident of Spokane County. Married 27 years to wife, Faye. Two married children, one grandson born October 1998.

Education Graduate of FBI National Academy, 3.9 GPA, April 1998 University of Virginia, January 1998-April 1998. Federal Emergency Management Agency certification on disasters, 1998. Basic and Advanced SWAT Academy. Basic Law Enforcement Academy 1974. Spokane Falls Community College, 1970-1972. Graduate of University High School, Spokane, 1970.

Work History Lieutenant, community services commander, Spokane County Sheriff’s Department, January 1998-present. In charge of DARE program; Sheriff’s Community-Oriented Policing Effort and Explorer Program. Lieutenant, patrol, graveyard shift, May 1996-January 1998. Shift commander. Succeeded in raising morale of officers. Sergeant, traffic division, September 1994-May 1996. A new division possible through research and presentations by me to superiors and county commissioners. Sergeant, patrol division, January 1990-September 1994. Responsibility to redirect activities of deputies to assure efficient distribution of manpower. Detective, crimes against property, September 1983-January 1990. Assigned to auto theft, checks, and fraud, and worked in burglary for six months. Deputy, patrol division, April 1974-September 1983. Responded to radio calls and handled all criminal situations assigned. SWAT team leader, EMT, traffic instructor, motorcycles. Professional and Civic Affiliations DUI Task Force. Washington State Traffic Safety Commission; co-chair, Spokane County. Legislative work with Spokane County Traffic Safety Commission Member, Valley Chamber of Commerce Member, National Association of Deputy Sheriffs Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council.