Endorsement: Clay Whittle, Sheriff

Editor:

I have been a member of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office for 10 years. My duty assignments have included the Road Patrol, Criminal Investigations Division and Special Operations Division. I have been a supervisor for four years and I am currently serving in the Internal Affairs Division.

During this time, I have observed Sheriff Clay Whittle and his leadership capabilities. Whittle has been strong and consistent through the good times and the bad. Whittle is a firm believer in the philosophy of community policing and has developed many programs to better serve the citizens of Columbia County.

Whittle has also implemented extensive departmental training in the area of community policing. He wants the deputies of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office to understand that they serve the citizens of this community. He insists on courtesy and professionalism. Whittle also stands behind the deputies whom he employs. No system is perfect, and any organization with more than 300 employees has its problems. Whittle does not run or hide from this challenge and leads by example.

During a training session at the Sheriff's Office, the instructor stated the definition of a leader is a person you would follow to a place that you would not go alone. I have in the past and will continue in the future to follow the leadership of Sheriff Whittle.

Keith E. Cox

Martinez