The two seasoned cops seeking the Republican nomination for Spokane County sheriff have similar pasts. But it’s the future that matters.

Cal Walker, a sheriff’s deputy who serves commendably as chief of police for Spokane Valley, has 19 years of law enforcement experience, the last 18 in the department he now wants to lead. He headed the serial killer task force that turned up Robert Yates Jr. When former Sheriff Mark Sterk stepped down in midterm last spring, he anointed Walker as his preferred successor.

Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich has 16 years in law enforcement and was a Spokane County deputy for 10. Among other supervisory responsibilities, he was in charge of training. He also led the Spokane County Deputy Sheriffs Association – their union – and when Sterk quit, the Spokane County commissioners unanimously chose him over Walker to fill the vacancy.

Walker has support from numerous sheriffs and other law enforcement brass around the state and region. Knezovich has broad support from rank and file cops.

Both candidates are able lawmen, but voters must answer a more urgent question: Who can best lead the Sheriff’s Office with competence, integrity and public accountability – in the future?

On-the-job experience matters, but to take the department to the level of professionalism where it needs to go, education is vital, too.

Knezovich earned degrees from Weber State College in management, law enforcement and marketing. In addition to the learning it represents, his diploma is a sign of his commitment early on to personal development and qualification in his field. It also sets a precedent that allows Spokane County voters to expect future sheriffs to have similar credentials.

Walker lacks a college education.

Walker does have the strong backing of Sterk, but his administration was closed and largely resistant to public oversight. Walker professes to be his own man in that regard, and both candidates gave The Spokesman-Review’s editorial board a vow to be open and accessible. But with Walker’s closeness to Sterk, it would be a gamble to think the mentor’s management style didn’t rub off on the protégé.

In the short time he’s had the office, Knezovich has been decisive and firm in dealing with a couple of awkward personnel incidents – a veteran deputy who exposed himself to a latte stand worker and a jail supervisor who allegedly lied to cover up inappropriate romantic relationships on the job. Both were fired promptly once Knezovich had the information he needed.

That kind of tough action reassures a public that expects police and deputies to be, as Knezovich himself put it, “above reproach when it comes to integrity.” Lip service to that value is common; the action Knezovich took is rare and commendable.

It’s even more significant in light of the strong political backing he enjoys from the men and women who wear the badge and will be held to his standards.

As sheriff, Knezovich has fielded the routine challenges as well. He’s gone looking for alternatives to ease jail overcrowding (a welcome initiative as the county considers a new criminal justice complex for up to $450 million), and he’s returned detectives to the neighborhoods and business districts where they can work with citizens in solving crimes. He’s up to the organizational challenges during difficult budgetary times.

Walker’s and Knezovich’s comparable law enforcement qualifications leave them closely matched as candidates, but the deadlock is soon broken by Knezovich’s ability to take command of the office and run it in a way that restores the public’s faith and the deputies’ pride.