Editor,

I’ve been following the race for Island County sheriff, and I fully support Rick Felici.

Rick is overwhelmingly the right person at the right time to move the Island County Sheriff’s Office into the future. I’ve known Rick personally and professionally for nearly 35 years. He’s the most trustworthy person I know. We worked together in the Navy at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, and we’ve both been in law enforcement for over 20 years.

I’ve watched Rick work his way up through the ranks, to his current position as chief criminal deputy.

Rick is a dedicated law enforcement professional. He’s earned the respect of the patrol and correction deputies, along with county administration officials. He has a great depth of knowledge when it comes to the how a law enforcement agency operates, and has significant management experience. He’s assisted the sheriff in navigating his department through challenging times, because he has the best interest of the citizens of Island County in mind.

One of the biggest challenges any community faces is the ongoing issue of illegal drug activity. Rick’s plan to work cooperatively with outside agencies has proven to be an effective way to get a handle on illegal drug activity. Criminals know no jurisdictional boundaries, nor do they respect existing laws.

Working with local, state and federal drug investigators is an effective way to share intelligence, multiply resources and create a multi-jurisdictional approach to drug investigations. The opioid crisis is an example of needing an all-hands-on deck approach to tackling this devastating issue.

In his effort to combat the drug problem, Rick reached out to other local law enforcement agencies. He’s doing more than just making a statement to run the drug dealers off the island. That noble cause comes with its own challenges. Starting up a narcotics K9 can program can be expensive. Selecting the right dog and handler combination along with the initial and ongoing training are all factors to consider.

Currently, there are four drug-sniffing K9 teams working the Island County area. Washington State Patrol, Anacortes PD, the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, and Mount Vernon PD all have narcotics K9s available. Utilizing an existing K9 narcotics detection dog is a valuable tool.

I know Rick will continue to work with local partners and seek solutions in the fight against the trafficking and distribution of illegal drugs. I’ve worked with Chief Felici and members of his department over the years and found them to be top notch professionals. I can attest that Rick truly is committed to “‘law and order and quality of life.”

I encourage you to vote for Rick Felici as the next Island County sheriff.

Chris Kading

Mount Vernon