SHERIFF CANDIDATE FORUM

Richard DeRosier

I have spoken with many county residents during my campaign and am
confident we share the same concerns for the future of Lake County.
We want safer communities in which to live and raise our families. We
want deputies to respond in a timely manner and follow through with
each and every case. We want to rid our communities of drug use and
the devastation it causes. We want all this done in a cost effective
manner.

I have dedicated my career to fighting the drug problem that is
causing such devastation to our county. Drug abuse training and
education will continue to be a top priority. I am the narcotics
investigator for a reason and currently head the multi-agency North
Shore Drug Response Team. I will support the creation of a drug
court program as another option to help rehabilitate drug offenders.
I will also lobby state and federally for increased funding.

Budget issues will become more of a challenge. I will actively seek
grants and other sources of funding to offset the burden to the
taxpayer. Overtime and capital expenditures need to be watched. I
have shown fiscal responsibility by applying for and receiving
grants, and have managed finances for drug task forces for over 10
years. As a City of Silver Bay councilman, I have gained experience
overseeing budgets on a city level.

I've lived in all four corners of our county and will see that all
areas receive the same level of commitment from their sheriff.

Carey Johnson

Drugs/Methamphetamines

As a department, we need to be more aggressive. We aren't doing
nearly enough. We need more arrests and convictions, especially of
our local dealers. We need to keep both the K-9 and drug
investigator's positions, but we need to change our approach. Our
officers need more training so that we are better equipped as a
department to attack this problem head on.

Youth/Community Education

We are doing a good job in educating our youth and community members,
but there is room for improvement. All of our children must be taught
DARE. If our residents are more aware of what is going on, we can
have more of a team approach in dealing with this problem. If we work
together, we can make a much larger impact.

School Liaison

I have always felt very strongly that we should have an officer in
our schools. I tried to get one in Springfield as chief, and I really
wanted to see one here. Due to budget constraints, however, we were
unable to get one. I would seek grants to add officers to our
schools, in order to give our children a more secure environment as
well as help with drug awareness and other safety programs.

Community Policing

We need to return the separate duty stations to Silver Bay and Fall
Lake. This will greatly improve response time and patrol coverage to
these areas, which will inevitably make both our residents and our
deputies safer in emergency situations.

Jerry Norberg

My name is Jerry Norberg and I am seeking the office of
sheriff.

Our county faces a number of challenges. The most important law
enforcement challenge is methamphetamine abuse. Meth is ruining
people's lives. I have conducted drug investigations for 13 years and
will use that experience as sheriff. I plan to add another K-9 unit
to Lake County. I would also send all deputies to narcotics
investigation training that emphasizes methamphetamine
investigations. Every deputy will be pro-active in drug
investigations. Public meetings will continue.

I have a plan to put a liaison deputy in our schools two days a week
to start to establish a relationship between the schools and the
sheriff's office. I will be in our schools personally. We have to
find funding to secure a deputy full-time in our schools. I will
research grant monies that may be available to fund the position.

Budget issues continue to be a challenge in Lake County. I will
continue working with the Lake County board in keeping the budget in
check. I will continue to scrutinize every purchase to assure we
remain within our budget.

Lastly, I have a plan to even out the coverage in Silver Bay and Fall
Lake without undue tax burden. Response times will be reduced under
this plan. Work stations will be reestablished.

I have 20 years experience with Lake County. Being the current
undersheriff, I see many challenges and have specific plans to meet
these challenges.

Thank you.