As I have watched and listened to the response from the community regarding the candidates running for Sheriff, it has become apparent that other than budget issues, the most common concern being expressed is the use and trafficking of illegal narcotics in our county.

This is understandable, considering the residual effect that both illegal and prescription drug abuse has had. Perhaps a greater understanding of battling this issue is in order. As a detective with the Sheriff’s Office for the last five years, and the one primarily responsible for executing all operations involving narcotics, I can attest to the Detective Johnson’s clear understanding and proactive approach to the problem. We, the public, are informed by headlines. The operations conducted by Brent and myself are necessarily confidential and fly well below the public’s knowledge. If one is to look closely, the significant activity is on a relatively low level compared to larger communities.

As a member of the Skagit County Drug Interdiction Unit, this office is continuously sharing information and ideas with our counterparts. This is a complex issue and unlike in larger communities and police departments, detectives aren’t able to simply disguise themselves and walk up to a drug dealer to make a buy. We must therefore depend on long-term undercover operations that are both costly and difficult. Brent has had countless years of experience with these issues, and as a result we have successfully completed nearly 20 wired and controlled narcotics purchases in the last year, resulting in several dealers being arrested.

The public is often extremely helpful in sharing confidential information with us regarding suspicious activities taking place. Information is good and needed but direct involvement goes much further. Brent has been working with informants longer than any of his counterparts in this election have been on the job, and he knows how to get results.

Detective Lachlan Buchanan

San Juan County Sheriffs Office