Candidates for Pierce County sheriff split insider endorsements as election nears
The county’s deputies union and the former sheriff have thrown their weight behind competing candidates for Pierce County sheriff.
Paul Pastor, the former sheriff, endorsed department spokesman Ed Troyer while the Deputy Sheriff’s Independent Guild backed Lt. Cyndie Fajardo.
Pastor, who spent nearly 20 years as sheriff, announced his support for Troyer on Oct. 7.
“I believe that he is best suited to build on the Department’s accomplishments, keep it centered and address and correct it’s imperfections,” Pastor said of Troyer.
The department’s union disagrees.
Vance Tjossem, president of the Deputy Sheriff’s Independent Guild, said the decision to endorse Fajardo was reached by vote of membership.
Both Fajardo and Troyer have been with the department for more than 32 years. The two candidates have faced criticism in recent months.
Fajardo led a drug unit that is under investigation for allegedly falsifying police reports to protect an informant, a News Tribune investigation revealed.
She and eight others in the drug unit each have filed for $1.5 million in damages against Pierce County officials.
Some activist groups have called for Troyer’s firing in light of Manny Ellis’ death while in custody of Tacoma police March 3. The Sheriff’s Department initially investigated the case. The Tacoma Action Collective, which advocates for the rights of Black people, has said Troyer made public statements that did not give a complete account of what happened. The case since has been turned over to state authorities for investigation and review.
