KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – In what has been the campaign season's largest sheriff candidates' debate so far, the three men vying to be the next sheriff answered the community's questions, put forward their qualifications and challenged each others' assertions.
Candidates Bob Chalk, Brian Martin and incumbent Frank Rivero answered questions from the community at the two-hour debate, hosted by the Lake County Peace Officers Association at Kelseyville High School April 8.
Martin and Rivero in particular had pointed exchanges over the running of the agency, with Chalk adding his own assessments that included the need for more training and better use of funds.
Lakeport Public Works Director Mark Brannigan was the evening's moderator.
Following opening statements by all three candidates, Brannigan asked the questions in a rotation that had been determined before the debate by a dice roll backstage.
The following is a detailed account of the candidates and their answers to all of the questions posed at the event. The time when each question is asked in the video above is in parentheses at the end of each question.
Question one: In your view, what are the biggest issues facing the sheriff's department at this time? (14:43)
Martin said it was the damaged relationships between the sheriff's office and other agencies, including the District Attorney's Office, and Lakeport and Clearlake Police departments, among others.
He said some of those issues went back before Rivero's tenure. “There's a lot of wounds that go deep.”
Martin said bridges needed to be crossed, not burned, and that the county needed a sheriff who can build relationships, collaborate, take criticism and restore the agency to the dignity it deserves.
Chalk, who said he agreed with some of what Martin said, cited safety, as well as communication and collaboration. “It is important that each and every law enforcement agency share resources,” he said. “Without that, we're going to harm and endanger our officers.”
He said credibility, honesty and pride need to be established amongst the sheriff's office employees. “Credibility and honesty is what is expected of the sheriff,” and it has to run uphill and downhill to the entire department in order to restore the public's faith.
Chalk also pointed to the need for a strict drug enforcement policy, with drugs being the No. 1 cause of crime in Lake County. “It has gotten far worse than it was when I started,” said Chalk, who was in law enforcement for more than 30 years before retiring as chief of Clearlake Police Department eight years ago.
Rivero said his highest priority is recruitment and retention, stating that the sheriff's office has been a “revolving door” and training ground for other agencies.
He said there have been no raises for deputies or other county employees in seven years, that deputies are underpaid and he urged people to go to the Board of Supervisors, which he said is being “recalcitrant” in the matter and responsible for “weaponizing” a contract clause to keep from raising salaries.
Without better pay, Rivero said everything else is irrelevant. He then pointed to public safety issues like state correctional realignment, AB 109, and problems with methamphetamine and “unmitigated marijuana growing” in the county.
Rivero also raised a rebuttal to Martin's statement about reestablishing relationships with other agencies.
“What Frank Rivero won't do is sell you down the river in order to join a club so that I can be popular with the rest of the groups in Lake County,” Rivero said.
In rebuttal, Martin said, “What you see here is the current sheriff's failure to take responsibility. It's always somebody else's fault. It' the DA's fault. It's the Board of Supervisors' fault.”
Martin said the sheriff does have control over morale, pride and esprit de corps.
“What morale is is your pride, your willingness and your ability to be trained to go out and carry out the mission,” Martin said. “That's what kept people here for many years despite low pay, and that's the reason that people are leaving, is because they don't have that sense of pride and morale. People will work for less money if they're treated well and they're respected, and they're valued as employees. If they're not, they'll go elsewhere.”
Question two: As sheriff, how will you foster an environment that ensures fair treatment of all people that are served by the Lake County Sheriff's Department? Please provide an example. (25:18)
Chalk said he would accomplish that goal through policies and procedures, and sensitivity training in dealing with all ethnic groups.
He also said that fairness has to come from the top down.
Training and daily briefings would be important, and deputies would need to understand and recognize a person's constitutional rights and civil liberties, Chalk said.
“It all boils down to leadership,” Rivero said in response to the question.
“The people who work for you will follow your lead and your leadership is what counts,” Rivero said, adding that people must be held accountable.
Rivero agreed with Chalk about training, and said he has “exponentially” increased training for the sheriff’s office.
Rivero said his decentralization plan to establish substations in various communities has worked well in the effort to make the agency part of the community and ensure people are served.
Martin said the service the community receives on the street is a direct reflection of the attitude that comes from the top. He wants to see a change in outlook which he said would come from his approach, which isn't to place personal self worth on his position but to see it as an honor to serve.
He spoke about his experience working on training programs in the sheriff's office when he had worked there as a lieutenant. His management project was an education-based discipline program.
Rather than turning an average employee into a poor employee through punishment, the program instead would focus on training. However, that program wasn't implemented, despite being accepted by the Lake County Deputy Sheriff's Association, Martin said.
Martin was responsible for getting certification from the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training for the sheriff’s office for emergency vehicle operations, firearms training, defensive tactics, racial profiling and tactical communications, programs that to his knowledge are still in place.
Question three: What resources will you use to address the mentally ill population in custody and charged with criminal offenses? What steps do you plan with Alcohol and Other Drug Services/Mental Health? (33:17)
Rivero said mental health and medical services are offered to jail inmates. The county recently received a $20 million grant to expand the jail, and the application included a mental health ward.
Mental health problems sometimes can be blurred and confused with other issues, such as drug use. However, Rivero said all precautions are being taken to ensure safety and well being of each of the prisoners.
It's easy to say what you're going to do, but Rivero said hopes are tempered by finances.
In addition to services offered to inmates, officers also are being trained to deal with inmates with mental health issues, and Rivero said he believes the agency has come a long way, crediting correctional officers and jail medical staff.
In addressing the question, Martin noted, “The future of law enforcement shifted in 2011,” with the advent of state correctional realignment.
Along with that shift came funding to set up cooperative agreements between agencies not just to punish offenders but to explore why people commit crimes. Martin cited statistics that point to mental health issues being one of the root problems for those who are incarcerated.
He proposes to expand the day reporting center currently run with the Probation Department, and to work with other agencies like AODS and Behavioral Health to identify why people are committing crimes.
As a veteran, Martin intends to implement a veterans court – a project he had started while at the sheriff's office – noting there are more than 8,000 veterans in Lake County. “We don't need to thank them by tagging them as criminals when they come back, when they have issues that are going on mentally and physically because they chose to serve our country.”
He said he will do that by establishing relationships and working collaboratively and cooperatively with other agencies.
Chalk, in his response, “I guess I can't just say I agree, right?” At which point Martin playfully waved a green rebuttal flag.
Chalk said it's important that the jail expansion is built and designed to accommodate those with mental health issues, and that it's imperative that procedures for handling those individuals be developed along with mental health and AODS officials.
Question four: How do you define public safety and what policies and practices are you planning on implementing to help ensure it? (39:32)
“To me public safety is all about service, commitment and dedication,” said Martin,
Martin said he plans on implementing policies to bring about increased technology and training. He also wants to establish trainings for other agencies and have the sheriff's office become a training provider.
“We have true professionals here. We have an obligation to them to provide them with the training that they need to reach their full potential,” he said, adding that he also wants to institute a leadership training program that benefits all local agencies and will train the sheriff's office's future leaders.
Chalk said it's important that the policing and fire agencies work together to provide public safety.
It's imperative to provide training geared toward helping people move up in the agency. “That's what brings pride to the employees of the department,” Chalk said. “You have to provide them with opportunities.”
He added, “It is our obligation as law enforcement managers to provide the opportunity for the employees to advance in their career.”
Rivero said public safety “is in the minds of the people who reside within the area that the law enforcement agency is serving.”
If community members feel they can leave their homes safely and pursue things they enjoy, then the public safety mission is going in the right direction, Rivero said.
It's what the leadership of the agency does to identify where the public safety issues are, and Rivero said he uses tools like statistics to do that.
Rivero cited a number of statistics to back up his assertion that he has improved arrest rates for drugs and other crimes.
Question five: If elected sheriff, what are or will you do to resolve the RIMS (record information management system) issue and ensure cooperation between the sheriff's office and other agencies? (46:16)
“Allow access to the other agencies, it's as simple as that,” said Chalk.
He said that the Clearlake Police Department, under his tenure as chief, was the first agency in the county to introduce computers and cameras in patrol cars. “I believe in technology. I believe in sharing technology amongst the agencies.”
A year before his retirement as Clearlake Police chief, Chalk purchased and installed RIMS at the agency. He said the system is vital for safety of officers and the public, offering a centralized warrant and information system.
Rivero, who had cut off both Lakeport Police and the Lake County Probation Department from the system in April 2013, called RIMS “a huge issue.”
“It has historically been abused and weaponized in this county,” Rivero said, referencing cases within the sheriff's office that he said illustrated the abuse of the system by deputies.
He also accused the District Attorney's Office of “thousands” of abuses of the system.
Martin, who had been an administrator of the RIMS system while at the sheriff's office, said Rivero failed to mention another deputy, Mike Morshed, who was implicated in taking a crime report from the RIMS system and posting it online. Martin investigated the case against Morshed, who later was fired by the sheriff's office.
Rivero, according to Martin, was making baseless allegations and again refusing to take responsibility, and Martin offered important dates to keep in mind when understanding RIMS.
He said the RIMS access was cut after Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen criticized Rivero publicly for not notifying other agencies of a bomb threat at the Lake County Courthouse.
On March 24, 2013, Martin announced his candidacy for sheriff. On April 17, 2013, a letter by Martin criticizing Rivero was printed in the Lake County Record-Bee. The following week, Rivero cut the access.
“If you don't think he was abusing his power and authority at that time for political purposes, you really need to think long and hard about that,” said Martin.
In his rebuttal, Rivero accused Martin of giving a false timeline, and said he had only canceled RIMS access to Lakeport Police “within the last six or eight months,” when in fact he cut the agency off in late April of 2013.
During a random audit, Rivero said he found a Lakeport Police officer had been accessing his wife's records and other family member records in the system and changing them.
Rivero said it has taken years to uncover the RIMS abuse he was alleging against former members of the sheriff's office. Rivero accused Martin of telling investigators – who Rivero had hired – in March or April of 2011 that he had grave concerns about RIMS.
Martin, in his own rebuttal, pointed out that Rivero had hired those investigators to whom he referred in June of 2011.
Regarding the dates he previously had given which Rivero challenged, Martin said they were easily researched and proven.
As for the allegations of thousands of illegal accesses to RIMS by the District Attorney's Office, Martin, directly addressing Rivero, said, “Prove it.”
Question six: In what way will you implement current and available technology advancements to the Lake County Sheriff's Department? What benefits do you believe they will have on public and officer safety? (58:00)
Rivero said the best current technology brought to the sheriff's office is car cameras. They were started under the previous administration but Rivero said he has increased the number of them.
“They tell an independent story,” and both protect the public and officers, and provide evidence. Rivero said the agency also as purchased 12 body cameras.
The sheriff's office entire budget is about $20 million, with the bulk of it going for salary and benefits, Rivero said.
“Technology is expensive,” Rivero said, noting he can't overspend, but that he has worked to move the sheriff's office into the 21st century.
Martin discussed mapping modules and GPS technology that can aid law enforcement.
“Technology is expensive but it's worth it,” Martin said, adding that it saves in the long run on lawsuits, officer safety and public safety.
Referring to Rivero's earlier statement about saving $1 million in his budget, Martin questioned why some of that money wasn't used to advance the department's technology. He said it always seemed that Lake County's technology was 15 years behind the times, and he intends to bring the agency up to speed.
Chalk said he was sad to hear that the sheriff's office technology was so far behind, relating his own efforts to bring Clearlake Police current in order to benefit officers.
“We led that technology field because we couldn't pay them the highest salary but I could get grants to get that equipment. They liked that. That was their reward,” Chalk said.
Chalk estimated that the sheriff's office's technology could be upgraded for between $400,000 and $500,000.
“And I heard that $1 million was given back. It's sad,” said Chalk.
In his rebuttal, Rivero said the county was facing a tremendous budget crunch when he took office and the county administrative officer approached him and all other departments heads to ask them to tighten their belts.
He said the $1 million he gave back was taken out of “the fat” and didn't affect services.
Rivero said he looked into technology upgrades when he took office that would have cost millions of dollars and wasn't reliable due to poor cell phone services.
Chalk responded, saying the technology issues aren't all Rivero's fault, and should have been done a long time ago. He also said that such technology doesn't rely on cell phones but repeater systems.
Referring to the money Rivero returned, “The first thing you gotta learn as sheriff, if you give it back, they'll never give it to you again,” Chalk said.
Chalk asked the Board of Supervisors to work with the sheriff to update technology.
Question seven: In what ways have you contributed to the community outside of law enforcement? (1:09:32)
Martin said volunteering is very important to him. He has three children and has helped coach their sports teams – football, basketball, soccer and baseball – and volunteered to help with Boy Scouts when his son was a member; volunteered for Relay for Life, a group that raises money to research cancer, a disease which has affected his family as it has many others; and assisted with building the District Attorney's Office Victim-Witness Division multi-disciplinary interview center, where young crime victims can be interviewed in a safe environment.
“Volunteering and community service is something that is very important to me,” Martin said.
Chalk is a member of the Lakeport Elks. He's previously been involved with the Committee to Restore Clearlake, Positive Image Committee of Clearlake and the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.
As a private businessperson, he donates funds to schools and to other worthy civic organizations in Clearlake.
“I'm impressed by the resume of volunteering,” Rivero said of his two opponents. “Must have a lot of time on their hands, but I've worked a lot as sheriff, and that is my primary focus, along with my family.”
He said he spends the time he has, much of it after hours, “answering the call of the people when they have concerns,” along with being out in the community.
Question eight: How has criminal justice realignment changed the business of law enforcement in California, and what will you do in response to the change in the law? (1:13:30)
Chalk said all counties have been drastically affected by the release of prisoners back into the counties.
The sheriff's office will be impacted particularly in the areas of patrol and the jail, and the sheriff will have to direct staff to allocate personnel in the best way possible to deal with the influx of crime, which Chalk suggested the county already has seen.
The jail expansion project will take up to four to five years to complete, and Chalk said programs will need to be put in place while the construction is under way.
Programs like home detention will be utilized, and the sheriff must take a stand against serious offenders being released back to Lake County, Chalk said.
Rivero said he had opposed correctional realignment from the beginning, and said he was one of the few sheriffs to do so, calling it a “disaster.”
When he took over as sheriff, there were 170 inmates in the county jail. The previous week, jail inmates totaled 350, with the jail only licensed for 286, he said.
“It's here, I've accepted it and I've dealt with it,” said Rivero,
On the patrol side, he said deputies are having to deal with more hardened criminals. “We have to rethink how we manage the entire idea of law enforcement and the criminal justice system.”
People can be rehabilitated. Rivero said rehabilitation programs are being implemented by BI Inc., which offers parenting and GED classes, among other services. There also is a home detention program.
He said the state now is planning to reduce realignment funding to counties, and he urged people to contact their state legislators to lobby against that.
Martin explained that the Supreme Court ordered the state of California in 2011 to reduce its prison population due to overcrowding.
“We're now facing the same issue here in Lake County,” he said, adding, “It's not going to be very long before the federal court comes in and puts that same type of cap on us.”
Martin suggested creating a realigned offender task force. “We need to come up with solutions to this problem.”
He plans to work on establishing relationships with other agencies – Probation, Behavioral Health, AODS, employment counselors and WorkForce Lake – to find ways to steer people away from criminality.
“We've had over 25 years of simply warehousing our criminals,” only to find out it's only “a revolving door,” Martin said.
Question nine: What are the primary functions of the Lake County sheriff? How will you uphold those functions as the elected leader? (1:22:13)
Rivero said the first and foremost primary function was the jail, which is mandated. He said the sheriff’s office also covers the coroner division, provides court security, boat patrol, the civil division which serves evictions, restraining orders and other paperwork, and the patrol division.
“They all have to be incorporated into the bigger picture,” Rivero said.
The ones that get the most focus due to public safety are patrol and the jail, Rivero said.
Martin said the sheriff wears many hats and they have a finite amount of resources and staff. “I think what the people out here want to know is what are you going to do as the candidate that's going to make things better.”
He intends to reinstate the volunteer program. Martin said at one point there were 100 volunteers in the program. A lot of them are no longer volunteering with the sheriff's office but are serving elsewhere.
Martin said he wants to tap into the people who are ready, willing and able to help make Lake County safer.
Chalk said the sheriff must act as an oversight officer for the agency.
Remember when you're electing a sheriff, you're electing a sheriff-coroner, he said.
Chalk said the sheriff has many duties and cannot do them all himself. He must have staff, policies and procedures in the organization to carry out those responsibilities.
Question 10: Please describe the methods of communication you will utilize to communicate with the general public the activities of the sheriff's department, for example, newspapers, social media, etc. (1:29:26)
Martin said he brought the Nixle program to the sheriff's office before he left. It's meant to provide urgent public safety information to the community. “It wasn't intended to be the public information dissemination point that it has become,” he said.
He values social media and the Internet, and plans to implement Facebook and Twitter accounts for the sheriff’s office, and modernize and update the sheriff's Web site.
Martin said he also wants to hold press conferences so the community and press can come and interact with the sheriff and information officer, and plans to change the policy that only the public information officer can speak to the media.
The media should not show up at a crime scene and get the equivalent of a hand over the camera, Martin said.
Martin intends to have open communications with the media and public. “I intend to not exclude any particular media group. It's all about openness and transparency.”
Freedom of the press, he said, gives the community the ability to be heard and hold public officials responsible and accountable. “We need to have that openness and transparency that we hear so often about.”
Chalk said the electronic media seems to be the fastest and easiest source to use. “But I have to tell you that I'm a little bit old-fashioned.”
He still believes in the concept of holding set hours so people can come in and talk to the sheriff one on one.
Chalk also believes the sheriff should make himself available at given times at substations throughout the county.
As Clearlake Police chief, Chalk held office hours when the public knew he was available. Many elderly can't get out of their homes to visit the sheriff, nor are they electronically inclined.
He said he made appointments with those people and visited them at their homes.
“I believe that is important even today,” Chalk said.
Rivero said he makes himself personally available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via his cell phone, to anyone who calls him.
“I always return my calls and I always answer the people's questions. No matter what,” Rivero said.
The sheriff's office has Lexipol, a program to monitor case law, best practices and policies. The Lexipol policy has Nixle as its press release program, Rivero said.
Rivero also said the department puts out more press releases than it did before he took office.
He said the Web page is updated and he always has a radio show in which he claimed he takes unscreened and unscripted calls.
“My communication, honestly, has been about as good as it's gonna get,” he said.
Question 11: Please describe the challenges and possible opportunities associated with the state legislation (may have meant “legalization” in reading the question) of medical marijuana and the county's ordinance on this matter. (1:37:48)
Chalk said the medical marijuana challenges include whether it is being properly utilized as it was intended to be. Proposition 215 was a “guise” in which people who didn't have medical needs could get medical marijuana cards.
He said all you have to do is go to a doctor and say your underwear is tight and you will get a recommendation.
“I'm going to tell you that I have a different view than I used to have. I'm going to tell you something that I never thought that I would ever say in my life. From a personal perspective, I oppose marijuana. But that's not the job of the sheriff. The job of the sheriff is to serve the best interests of the people and the best interests of the country,” Chalk said.
Chalk estimated that marijuana will be legalized within two to four years, pointing to other states where that is the case.
“We know that it's not for medical purposes,” Chalk said, suggesting only 2 percent of the people using it are using it for a valid medical purpose.
He said it was time to legalize marijuana nationally, and that it should be commercially grown, processed, sold and taxed. That is the only way to get it out of the community’s backyards. He suggested using tax money to fight the methamphetamine problem.
Rivero said he believes marijuana should be legalized, and that prohibition is not working, with more crime the result. “The problem that you have is, that it's not expedient for the federal government to do so.”
He said Proposition 215 was a “decent attempt” to acknowledge that there is a legitimate medical use for marijuana. “The problem has been, that organized crime and drug traffickers saw an enormous opportunity there,” to hijack the will of the people and blur the lines of what is legal and what is not.
“That has been one of the most challenging things that I have dealt with since I've been sheriff,” Rivero said. “When I took this office I would never have imagined that, but it's the truth.”
He said he supports Measure N, the county ordinance to go on the June 3 ballot, which sets rules for medical marijuana growing. Rivero said the measure is needed to deal with the out-of-control grows.
Approximately 160,792 illegal marijuana plants and 4,800 pounds of processed marijuana were seized and 141 illegal grows were eradicated in Lake County last year. He said he has never gone after a medical marijuana patient.
Martin said the problem that comes along with marijuana isn't the plant itself. In his more than 20 years in law enforcement, he has seen people drink themselves to death, and overdose on cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and prescription pills. He hasn't ever seen anyone who died from a marijuana overdose.
The problem is that marijuana is so profitable. “Any time that you have profit, you have greed. Any time you have greed, you have violence, and we really need to come up with smart ways to address those problems in our community,” Martin said.
Martin said his deputies will have five areas of focus in order to protect legitimate patients. They will go after large-scale, commercial grow operations; those located on public lands; those who trespass and grow on other people's private property; those that cause environmental damage; and anyone who diverts natural waterways or steals water.
Rivero offered a rebuttal – or a “point of clarification” – to say he had increased the number of deputies in the narcotics task force and those specifically working on marijuana, with a specific target in “our own backyards.”
He said “monstrous” grows in Lake County neighborhoods should be the target, not those up in the federal forests. The federal government needs to step up and take care of those areas.
Question 12: Please provide your position on concealed carry permits. (1:49:24)
Rivero said his position is very simple. “If you're a law-abiding citizen, you should have a CCW. End of story.”
He said there were 301 concealed weapons permits issued when he took office, and now there are close to 470. If people are responsible, they should be able to defend themselves.
Said Martin, “A well-armed, law abiding, responsible population will make bad people think long and hard before trying to victimize you.” He said every person who is legally allowed to have a firearm should be allowed to have a concealed weapons permit if they want to.
“Self-protection is not only a constitutional right, to me it's a basic human right,” Martin said, adding he wants to implement programs to teach CCW holders how to safely and effectively handle firearms, when to use them and when they shouldn't use them.
Chalk said he issued CCW permits during his time as Clearlake Police chief. He referred to a recent Ninth Circuit Court decision regarding the “due cause” reason for be allowed a CCW, which Chalk said he believes will be appealed.
“I do not agree that anybody that is legally entitled to have a firearm should be issued a concealed weapons permit, only because I think we need to look at the moral issue involved in that,” Chalk said, explaining that while someone may be legally entitled to have one, they may have recently been involved in a domestic dispute.
Closing remarks (1:53:51)
“You're going to be confronted with tough decisions,” Chalk told voters.
If they want the sheriff's office to continue the way it has, the decision is easy and the choice is the sitting sheriff. If they want change, Chalk said the options are him and Martin.
Chalk said he and Martin have both similarities and differences. “I have much more experience, much more qualifications, and have actually performed the similar job” to the sheriff for a long period of time, adding there is a steep learning curve in becoming sheriff.
“We must improve the image of the sheriff's department and Lake County,” said Chalk, noting that the last two sheriffs have been elected from within, and both have been plagued by controversy. “There could be new and innovative ideas, ideas that were brought from the outside.”
He pledged no favoritism, no retaliation and starting from “a good clean slate,” urging people to vote for him due to his experience and qualifications.
“I am running on the record that I created in the last three and a half years, the record of tough but just law enforcement, the record of even and equal and decent treatment to each and every citizen that we contact,” said Rivero, adding that he's also successfully taken on the challenge of correctional realignment.
He said he's provided leadership and direction to good people to do the job properly. “You do have choices and I respect your choice. I respect the will of the people.”
He said he's taken on issues related to drugs and parolees. “Your deputies are doing a terrific job.”
Rivero asked people to do their own research about the candidates. “I ask for you to reelect me as sheriff and I respect your decision.”
Martin thanked everyone at the debate and those watching, as well as his opponents, noting it takes a lot to run a campaign. He made a commitment that whoever is elected would get the support of the other two.
He then turned to Rivero and offered his hand. The men shook hands, and Martin then turned and shook Chalk's hand.
Martin then took on Chalk's assertion that he has more time and experience. “More time doesn't necessarily mean more experience,” Martin said.
“If you or a loved one had to go see a heart surgeon, you have to ask yourself, do you want a heart surgeon that practiced medicine for 32 years and has been out of the game for the last eight years, or do you want a heart surgeon that's been involved constantly for the last 22 years,” and is up to date on modern practices and technology, Martin said.
Martin said he is the only candidate with military experience and the only one with a bachelor of science degree in public administration with advanced education in law enforcement that's specific to the job of the sheriff.
Martin asked who people want to represent the office of the sheriff and law enforcement now and into the future in Lake County. “I believe I'm that person.”
He said he wants to do the sheriff’s job because he's committed to Lake County, and people's votes will be as important to him this year as they will be in elections in the years to come.
“I plan to take this department a long way into the future. I'm here for the long haul,” said Martin.
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