To the Editor:
In the early portion of the Oct. 11 debate between the two candidates for the Grant County Sheriff’s position, Mr. Palmer stated that he was pleased that he and Sgt. Gray were running a “clean campaign.” So much for that idea.
All it took was for Sgt. Gray to mention that he had no desire to join Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association because, according to his research, there were undercurrents of the “white supremacist” faction involved in that organization. Sgt. Gray, at no time, implied or accused Mr. Palmer of being racist or anything of the sort. He simply stated his view about the organization, and immediately Mr. Palmer accused Sgt. Gray of labeling him a racist. Whatever happened to the Constitutional right of freedom of speech?
When Sgt. Gray then questioned the validity of the “seven or nine” alleged complaints that private citizens had made against the U.S. Forest Service because he could find no documentation, that blossomed into a public complaint by Mr. Palmer accusing his opponent of some very serious misconduct. I find it hard to believe that the current sheriff himself seriously thinks that Richard Gray was capable of or the least bit inclined to rifle through files at the Sheriff’s Office.
As of the writing of this letter, Sgt. Gray has been exonerated of any wrongdoing by the Department of Justice. We all know the fallout from this ridiculous incident sure isn’t going to strengthen interdepartmental relations in Grant County.
Rather than point fingers at your political opponent because he chooses to disagree with you, provide us with proof of your statements. I believe the professional behavior in this case would have been for Mr. Palmer to have approached Sgt. Gray in a professional, courteous manner, mano to mano, as it were, rather than perpetuating any embarrassing and counterproductive series of events which only proves it’s time for Sgt. Richard Gray to take over the helm of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and get back to the business of protecting our citizens and fighting real criminals.