SCOTT WALTON
For
Sheriff
Rogers County

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I've been asking people what they want from their sheriff's office and listening to concerns people have. When I ask the question, I'm not just trying to make small talk, I'm really interested in knowing what Rogers County citizens want to see from their law enforcement. Sometimes the answers are funny like, “Well, I don't want to see them behind me when I'm late for work!” Sometimes the answers aren't anything to laugh about: “I called because I needed help but there was no one available.” Answers like those have to be addressed.

As I listened to what the citizens want I noticed that a lot of people felt it was important to tell me what they didn't want. They're not wanting some grand fireworks show followed by spaceships and submarines. They're not interested in shelling out tax money for unnecessary luxuries and they're not interested in pretending we're some kind of metropolitan police department. The people are not asking for a militaristic arm of government. They're not wanting tanks with heavy weapons when what they need is a deputy to take a report. They're not wanting deputies on country roads writing tickets while there's a shortage of deputies to patrol the county and they're not wanting to be forgotten about when they need service.

It is abundantly clear that the people of Rogers County are asking for necessities, not luxuries. They want reasonable response times when they call for a deputy. They want a responsible investigation conducted when they've been the victim of a crime. They want the bad guys to leave their neighborhoods. They want reasonable turn around times when civil papers need to be served. They want their phone calls returned when it is appropriate and they want basic common courtesy. They want a sheriff's office that cares about the community and they want a sheriff that understands how hard they worked for the tax money they paid. They want the fundamentals.

The fundamentals of law enforcement have been clear for nearly 200-years now. They were established in 1829. Since then technology has changed, laws have changed, criminals have changed, government has changed and society has changed. Still, the fundamentals remain the same.

On September 29, 1829 the London Metropolitan Police was established by Sir Robert Peel, known as the Father of Modern Policing. At first, the idea of a uniformed police force was unpopular and few believed it would serve any real good but later, as crime was dramatically reduced in London, the popularity of “Bobby's Boys” became the benchmark of protecting civilized society.

Bobby's Boys, later and still known as “Bobbies” were each issued badges made of copper and each badge had a unique badge number. The issuing of numbered badges was fundamental according to Peel because the number on the badge served as a means to make each officer accountable for his actions. As the public grew in awareness of Peel's “Copper Badgers,” relationships between the police and the public it served strengthened. The public was soon incorporating the “coppers” into daily life and, soon after, it became a civic duty to report crime and criminals to the “cops.”

As years evolved into decades, and decades into centuries, the role of the policeman became more clearly defined. Policemen became welcomed additions to the community because they had earned the public's respect and admiration. Police forces became steeped in tradition and consumed with the pursuit of honor.

Peel had a basic police philosophy of modern policing and knew, even back then, that in order for a police force to meet its obligations to both the citizens and the law it enforced, the basic tenants had to first be fulfilled.

Peel's principles were simple:

1.Every police officer had to be given a badge with a unique number so that each officer's actions were accountable.

2.The effectiveness of a police force cannot and should not be measured by the numbers of arrests made or the amount of police activities but, rather, the effectiveness of a police force must be measured by the lack of crime and the unwillingness of criminals to ply their trades upon the society served by the police.

3.Most importantly, Peel knew that for any police force to be effective the most basic principle had to be observed. This most important principle was: The Police Are The Public And The Public Are The Police

The history of policing in the United States has had its share of strife and controversy and almost always, it is because the last and most important principle of Peel's is either forgotten or ignored. When the police forget that they are citizens protecting their neighbors, the public can no longer view their police forces as friends and a terrible disconnect ensues, often resulting in horrible actions. When the police disregard that they are the public and the public are the police then a resulting condition arises in which the public no longer approves of the actions of the police. Without the approval of the public, the police cannot function.

These principles are not hard to understand. A fundamental of policing is to remember that the police are not the enemy of the people, hoping to catch them doing wrong but, rather, the protector of the people, working to safeguard them from those who intend harm. As sheriff, I will stay on the road to modernization to keep the sheriff's office updated with the necessary technology that is relevant to Rogers County. I want a fully staffed department and I want to return to the basic fundamentals that earn the approval of the public.

Instead of creating traffic units I want to first ensure that when a citizen needs a deputy, we can get a deputy out to them. Before we ensemble SWAT teams I will ensure that we first have a fully staffed department. Before we put together a SCUBA team, I want to first assure the victims of crime that their cases are being investigated. Instead of creating a motorcycle squad I will first make certain that we have enough deputies to patrol the county. I will work to reduce crime through effective programs and initiatives. I will work to build partnerships between the police and the public. I will strive to maximize efficiency for serving civil papers. These are the fundamentals.

I understand the tremendous responsibilities that come with the sheriff's seat and I will honor those obligations through reasonable, effective, efficient and responsible programs and methods that uphold the fundamentals of law enforcement and earn the approval and respect of the citizens I serve.

Paid for by Scott Walton for Sheriff