We (don’t) endorse: Pierce County sheriff candidates fall short of the mark
For the first time this century, Pierce County is having a genuine sheriff’s election. At last there’s competition for the region’s most prominent law enforcement job, nearly two decades since Paul Pastor was appointed. He cakewalked to three consecutive terms after sheriff became an elected post in 2007.
Now Pastor is retiring, and the three leading primary election candidates come with distinct skill sets; Cyndie Fajardo, Ed Troyer and Doug Richardson all have appealing qualities..
Unfortunately, each also has big holes in their resumes or troubling controversies shadowing their work.
The concerns are serious enough that the TNT Editorial Board won’t offer a recommendation at this time. We will reevaluate before the November general election.
While deciding not to endorse is unusual and frustrating, this election does reinforce our long-held view: Sheriff should be an appointed, not elected, office.
Voters aren’t qualified to ensure standards of discipline and professionalism in the uniformed ranks. And a popularity contest every four years isn’t the best way to hire someone to lead nearly 600 patrol and corrections deputies.
An unsatisfactory field of sheriff hopefuls, combined with public demand for improved law enforcement accountability in the digital age, give ample evidence of that.
The inside candidates in the Aug. 4 primary are Fajardo and Troyer; each has served more than 30 years in the PIerce County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
Fajardo, 61, joined in 1988 after relocating from Colorado; she’s filled duties ranging from narcotics to search and rescue. The Roy area resident worked her way up to lieutenant, earning credibility among the rank and file. She honed her administrative skills when PCSO loaned her to Steilacoom to be the town’s public safety director from 1999 to 2003.
In the candidates’ group interview with us, Fajardo stood out by balancing respect for law enforcement culture with a keen awareness of public perception; the latter can’t be minimized in the wake of George Floyd, Manuel Ellis and other police-custody deaths.
On neck restraints, for example, Fajardo said they’re an effective defensive tactic, but added that “citizens decide what we get to do.” That’s a sensible mindset as PCSO tries to rebuild trust among the nearly 400,000 residents of unincorporated Pierce County.
What a shame Fajardo is caught up in an investigation of a drug unit she formerly supervised. TNT reporter Stacia Glenn reported this week that Fajardo and others were placed on a potential impeachment list of state witnesses, pending a county prosecutor’s review of possible misconduct.
The deputies say the probe is politically motivated. Time will tell whether Fajardo is exonerated. But for now we can’t endorse her.
Troyer, 58, has the hometown pedigree — born and raised in Tacoma, joined PCSO at age 22 and started on graveyard-shift duty. The West Slope resident is widely regarded as a nice guy, owing to his leadership of programs including Toys for Tots and CrimeStoppers. He hopes to capitalize on his familiar face, owing to his job as sheriff’s spokesman standing in front of TV cameras for the last 20 years.
Being the straight-talking, accessible surrogate for Sheriff Pastor gives Troyer some campaign advantages. But that high profile means he must take the good with the bad.
Right now the bad is the homicide of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who died last spring under Tacoma police restraint. PCSO’s clumsy handling of the external investigation has been criticized by racial-justice advocates and officials as high as Gov. Jay Inslee. Troyer says “it’s a darn thorough investigation” that he “looks forward to releasing when the time is right.”
Perhaps. But endorsing Troyer is untenable while a separate state-level investigation of the Ellis case proceeds. As a detective, he also lacks the management background to lead a department so large.
That brings us to Richardson, 65, the even-keeled chairman of the Pierce County Council. The former Lakewood mayor netted most of the big endorsements, including the Deputy Sheriff’s Independent Guild — a coup, since he’s the outsider in this race.
There are good reasons why we’ve consistently endorsed Richardson in his previous city and county election bids.
Wrapping up eight years on the County Council, Richardson has strong diplomatic talents and proven budget-writing and administrative experience. Near the sunset of his career, we appreciate that he says his paramount goal if elected would be “preparing the next generation of leaders inside the sheriff’s department.”
But Richardson has never worn a badge and gun or gone through a police academy. That could be an insurmountable obstacle as he tries to command respect at all levels of PCSO. And his previous tenure as an Army Reserve brigadier general may clash with a growing public groundswell to de-militarize law enforcement agencies.
A fourth candidate in the primary, Darin Harris of Spanaway, doesn’t have name recognition, nor applicable PCSO, county government or management experience. Harris, 48, is a former Army special operator and current Defense Department police officer.
Fajardo, Troyer, Richardson and Harris should all be commended for years of public service. But as sheriff candidates, this group leaves us longing for the exceptional caliber of prospects that a national search would yield.
Pierce County would be wise to explore what King County is now considering: asking voters to return the sheriff to an executive-appointed rather than elected position.
ABOUT OUR ENDORSEMENTS
The News Tribune Editorial Board interviewed candidates and did other research before making our picks in the Aug. 4 primary election. For races with only two candidates, we will wait until general election season. Endorsements are intended to promote civic discourse and encourage voters to dig deeper. Board members include: Stephanie Pedersen, TNT president and publisher; Matt Misterek, editorial page editor; Karen Irwin, editorial writer; Matt Driscoll, local news columnist; and Pamela Transue, community representative and former president of Tacoma Community College.
This story was originally published July 19, 2020 at 7:00 AM.