A few items seem to have been lost in translation in the article written to announce my joining the race for sheriff of Umatilla County.

First, I do not feel this is a good time for the county to have a part-time sheriff dividing his time between the OSSA (Oregon State Sheriff’s Association) and his Pendleton office. Although the OSSA is a fine organization, I do not believe the county should be subsidizing his time or wages.

Second. I don’t think methamphetamines are our greatest threat to homeland security. As a former special agent trained in domestic counterintelligence, sabotage and espionage, without a doubt the Army Depot, followed closely by our dam and the local reservoir would be our major homeland security problems.

The production and distribution of meth is a scourge upon our county. This has been a growing police problem for years with local police managers pulling and adding personnel to the local task force. Given the enormity of the problem, meth was and will continue to be a criminal or police problem into the near future, a problem that can be controlled by increased and consistent support to the local drug task force, BENT.

Third. The reserve/volunteer program. We are fortunate to have a group of highly trained and skilled state correctional officers at the two local prisons. What I proposed was a recruitment program to beef up the nearly nonexisting patrol division of the sheriff’s office. With some additional training, done locally, these volunteer officers would be a great asset to the department and county residents.

Lastly, I do walk with a limp. I bear the scars and wear the purple hearts earned from those injuries with honor. The day of the sheriff grabbing a gun and kicking down the suspect’s door are leftover attitudes of 19th or 20th century police work best forgotten.

J.L. Humphrey

Pendleton

Editor’s note: For the last three sheriff administrations, the county has budgeted money for the sheriff to participate in the OSSA. It pays expenses, not salary. Sheriff Trumbo said the OSSA will not take any more of his time while serving as president this year than in previous years.