Two sheriff's candidates answer questions at forum

Monday night at the Hot Springs County Fair Building, several members of the community gathered to ask questions of the candidates for county sheriff in a no host public forum. Though all candidates were invited to speak at the forum, only Dan Pebbles and Tom Christensen attended.

After each candidate provided a brief introduction, those attending were allowed to ask questions, the first of which was in regard to working with the schools. Christensen said he knows there is a tight budget and not a lot to spend toward a school resource officer. He expressed concern of how current man hours are being used, and how some of the time could be allotted to school system.

Pebbles said he would like to see not just one but three school resource officers – one for each building – and he is also a proponent for possibly arming some of the teachers, noting it would be a good idea for those who are confident and maintain the training. Pebbles said the schools are moving toward a more secure environment but he would lobby for a school resource officer and, as sheriff, he plans to spend time at the schools.

The next question was in regard to the building of the Prevention Management Coalition, and opportunities for the sheriff’s office to work with that coalition and any ideas to prevent against drug and alcohol use, and suicide, in schools. Pebbles said he recently attended a conference and received a drug resistance program for high school students, and would like to be part of the coalition to fight drug use not just at the high school level but middle school and elementary.

Christensen said he would also like to be part of the group, possibly assigning a deputy to be a liaison. He said starting drug abuse education at a lower age would be helpful, as high school students are often already lost, and he would support the effort.

Asked about being a working sheriff, Christensen said a sheriff should be available and not have an unlisted phone number and be available to the public. He said it would be his responsibility if he were elected, to take care of any problem people might have.

Pebbles said being a working sheriff is imperative, and his experience, knowledge and training would be beneficial in training deputies.

The questions again came back to drug problems in the community and why someone can’t be brought in to do controlled buys. Pebbles said drugs are an “every opportunity” kind of thing, meaning law enforcement needs to be talking to people involved with criminal activity every day in order to further their information. He added drugs are a community problem and people are needed in the community to provide any information they can.

Christensen said drugs are community problem and information provided allows officers to focus on specific individuals rather than wasting manpower. People may be arrested and get out of jail, he said, but after the second or third time the judge might put them away for longer. Christensen said constant focus and surveillance on known offenders can provide opportunity to bust them.

The next question was whether one person could oversee both the sheriff’s office and police department. Christensen said the main reason there isn’t one is because the town doesn’t want the sheriff’s office handling their affairs. He said there’s no reason for the heads of both units to work together. He would work toward more unity between the departments, as once there were town officers who could be deputized so they could go outside town limits.

Pebbles said the problem is getting the city and county working together, which would entail developing a committee of equal part town and county personnel to be a governing body. Financially, he said, it would only save one administrator’s position and could work with a lot of cooperation. As sheriff, he said, it would be his intent to have everyone working together for the people of Thermopolis and Hot Springs County.

As far as asking the county commission for funds to hire an undercover operative to address the drug problem, Pebbles said he would be absolutely for it and in the past he’s talked about using an inmate from a detention center in another county for such purpose.

Christensen said he’s also in favor of developing an undercover operative or bringing one in if need be, and he understands the tightness of budgets for such things.

Asked why there is no adult educational services or library in the county jail, and about the difficulty in even getting Bible studies there, Christensen said he had heard of such issues and if what he’s hearing is true he would look at possibly bringing such services back.

Pebbles said the jail is one of the biggest liabilities the sheriff’s office has and is a great place to start revitalizing the community when it comes to criminal aspect. He’s a supporter of bringing an adult education program as well as others, including a drug resistance program. He said if he were elected he would address issues with the jail from the first day.

It was clarified that the jail does have religious services, a library and education services.

As for the joint law enforcement center and any changes of how the police and sheriff’s office would work together, Pebbles said it is a shared facility and there are certain shared costs. He noted is would become even more of a joint center if he were elected.

Christensen noted the importance of the police chief and sheriff working together, as such a partnership would trickle down through both departments. Being strapped for manpower, he said, working together will help to fill the gaps.

As to how the department would work with Search and Rescue, particularly with regard to call times, Christensen said he wants dispatch sending them out quickly as a few minutes could mean the difference between life and death. He noted Search and Rescue should not have to wait for the sheriff to make the call.

Pebbles said he is a big supporter of Search and Rescue, and needs to be promoted and utilized. If elected, he said, every officer in the county would have the authority to call them out. He further added if someone were missing he would utilize Search and Rescue until he or she is found.

Another question was in regard to using citizen volunteers to help with the budget crunch. Pebbles said he would love to have a volunteer program, and would utilize people to the best of their abilities to benefit the county. Christensen said there are certain areas where volunteers could be used and others they can’t, and that would have to be sorted out, but he was in favor of using them anywhere they could be beneficial.

A question came up as to how the department would work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Christensen said he supports ICE whole heartedly, and is not a fan of illegal immigrants. Should a situation arise where ICE needs to be called in, he said, he would support the agency.

Pebbles is a strong supporter of ICE, as the country has rules that people need to follow to live here. If there were a question about someone living here illegally, he said he would work with ICE to sort that out.

Another question about the jail was in regard to whether a nurse or medical treatment is available to inmates. Pebbles said the financial aspect of this is a bit tough, but he’s supported utilizing a public health nurse. One of the things he wants to address is taking care of inmates’ medical needs early on rather than paying much more later.

Christensen said there not being a jail nurse is troubling, and such a position is needed to help, at least, with dispensing medication. He said it is a huge liability. He noted another concern of his was the amount of money being in overtime at the jail, and suggested using that money for a nurse.

Regarding federal offices that could come in and direct the sheriff’s office on how to handle things, Christensen said under the 10th Amendment the sheriff’s office is the supreme law enforcement and must grant approval for federal agencies to come in and operate. He was in favor of helping such agencies if they ask for it. Pebbles said he would be a peacekeeper and work with those agencies to find solutions to the problems in the county.

Asked about what areas of the budget might be cut to make it available for some of the programs being discussed, Pebbles said he would address the overtime at the jail by setting up the staff needed to operate the facility. He noted he is not afraid to do any job that needs doing.

Christensen noted there are some scheduling changes that could be made to address the issues. Though officers might not get the shifts they like, he said, that’s part of the job.

As for the jurisdiction in Hot Springs State Park and addressing the vandalism, Christensen said the park is under the sheriff’s office as well as the state park office. He said the vandalism could be addressed through scheduling, though it would mean longer shifts so officers can keep an eye on the park. He also suggested putting out some field cameras.

Pebbles agreed something different needs to be done, and he was surprised more technology has not been used to catch the vandals. He said increased enforcement would be a solution, as well as giving a severe enough penalty to those caught so as to deter further vandalism.

Another jurisdiction was in regard to Kirby, as people are turning to the town as a spot for drug-related and other criminal activity. Pebbles said the key is getting people who are arrested to talk about others in their circles, along with providing officers with information such as license plates.

Christensen said he helped take down several drug labs down in the country. He said a key to the busts was surveillance of vehicles going in to certain locations, then taking advantage of opportunities to pull those vehicles. To address drug issues, he said, people have to be aware of it, watching for it and working.

Answering to a statement that law enforcement doesn’t use information given to them, Pebbles encouraged people to not stop providing information to law enforcement as he would definitely utilize it and it’s important for law enforcement officers. Christensen said no matter how insignificant someone might think a call is, he would require documentation and that the problem be addressed.

As to long delays in getting officers to respond to non-emergent situations, Christensen said that goes back to making sure deputies are accountable. As sheriff, he said, he would want to know whay a deputy did not respond to a given call. Pebbles provided his personal cell number and said if there were a problem people could call him directly. As a working sheriff, he plans to be available to answer any questions and do tasks as needed.

Another question was about doing community service in those cases where restitution is not possible. Pebbles said he would like to promote an inmate work program, which would also be available to anyone who wants to work off fines. Christensen said it would depend on the severity of the sentence, and liabilities would have to be worked out with the county attorney’s office. He would be in favor of allowing people to “work it off” and help out the community, but the severity of the crime would also be a factor in whether people would want inmates back out on the streets.

As for a program, Christensen said it would, again, depend on severity of the crime. He was also concerned with budget constraints and having a deputy out watching the inmates. It would also have to be considered on a case by case basis, Christensen said, and not cost a lot of manpower.

Pebbles said when the jail is fully staffed there could be times scheduled for detention officers to take inmates out for a few hours at a time, though it wouldn’t be done every day. As for liability, he said, the jail uses inmate labor all the time, paying a compensation. Doing community work is something he would support, and would provide an opportunity for people to feel like they’re making progress on their sentences.

As for a jail work program, Pebbles said he’s not opposed to the idea and would certainly consider it if recommended. He noted such programs do provide revenue back to the jail and offers inmates an opportunity to maintain their job while serving their time. Christensen again said the severity of the crime would determine if someone would be eligible for the program, and it would be handled on a case by case basis.

The final question concerned budget cuts coming down from the State and sheriff’s offices having to pick up livestock issues. Christensen said there used to be six investigators in the state to handle livestock cases, and the sheriff’s offices are now having to pick up the slack. Brand inspectors, he noted, have the job of identifying livestock and by statute they can only do that in daylight hours, which means it is the duty of the sheriff’s office to address livestock issues after dark.

Pebbles said if it’s in the statute book and is a crime, it falls to the responsibility of the sheriff’s office. Having the livestock investigators was advantageous, he said, but since they’re gone the sheriff has to take on that responsibility. Having grown up here, Pebbles said he is familiar with a lot of the ranching communities. The office would respond to the calls, he said, but also work with Wyoming Highway Patrol as they come in.

Following the questions, Pebbles addressed a subject of controversy – his exit paperwork from the sheriff’s office – and invited anyone curious about it to visit with him.