To the Editor:

Here is part of the job description for Grant County sheriff, as supported by the Constitutions and constitutional law of the United States and the state of Oregon. The full description is available from the County Clerk’s office.

“… 6) As Emergency Services Director, develops, maintains and administers plans and programs to ensure emergency preparedness in the County; maintains liaison with fire departments/ districts, police agencies, public works departments, schools, public utilities and other organizations in the County useful in limiting the effects of disasters.

7) Negotiates and administers contracts for service with other jurisdictions/agencies.

8) Coordinates with other law enforcement agencies to insure adequate, quality service to the public.

9) Maintains and/or oversees the maintenance of appropriate records and prepares reports related to departmental programs and activities. …”

Sadly, Sheriff Palmer has declined to fulfill these duties on multiple occasions. To name a few:

• In 2011, he left 7 and 8 unfulfilled by refusing to work with USFS and spreading baseless stories about USFS workers; when he was fact-checked by his opponent at election time, he denied the John Day police access to his office, further damaging interagency cooperation and potentially endangering the public.

• He let those same duties go undone during the takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Other law enforcement organizations sent officers to assist Sheriff Ward. Palmer sent none, and supported the illegal occupiers so blatantly that other LEOs didn’t dare inform him of their attempts to enforce the law.

• This pattern of non-cooperation with other agencies has led many to doubt Palmer’s ability to fulfill point 6, and our county may be less able to respond to disasters as a result.

• Recently, with his conflicting claims about destroying public records and his refusal to comply with public records requests, he has cast doubt on his fulfillment of point 9.

Someone who refuses to perform any of the clearly defined duties of a job should resign or be fired; someone who will perform those duties should have the job. Todd McKinley has promised to perform all the duties of the Grant County sheriff. I’m voting for him.

Janine Goodwin

Prairie City