Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Kozowski announced that he is a candidate for Sheriff – and for the first time in nearly two decades, voters will have a choice when electing their Deschutes County Sheriff. Kozowski says, “given the current turmoil at the Sheriff’s Office, now is the time for him to step forward and provide necessary leadership and reform. Our world and our community are changing rapidly and the Sheriff’s Office must be 100 percent effective to protect the citizens we serve.”
Kozowski offers this rationale, “The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has great potential, but is in need of fresh ideas and new leadership. It is time to end the cycle of entrenched thinking and rubber stamped management transitions – that is why I chose to run.”
Kozowski has filed to run against the current and recently appointed, Sheriff Shane Nelson. Kozowski has a varied resume for the job. He has fourteen years in law enforcement including being a Deputy in Deschutes County since 2010. He spent over fifteen years in the technology industry, including starting and operating his own company. He spent six years (active and reserve) in the U.S. Marine Corps, including a deployment to Kuwait during Desert Storm.
“I bring a diverse background to the position and believe that the position of Sheriff in Deschutes County requires a new perspective along with vision and passion to make the Sheriff’s Office the premier law enforcement agency in Oregon.”
“Citizen safety must always be our first priority, but we must also serve the citizens of our county by making the most efficient and intelligent use of the tax dollars they entrust to us,” says Kozowski. “To ensure we elevate and enhance services, I will spend time in the field, meeting with people across the County and will bring a new and appropriate level of transparency to this office.”
Kozowski is running on a platform of restoring trust, creating confidence and demanding accountability in the Sheriff’s Office. Emphasizing that point he said, “With the recent firing of Scott Beard due to suspected theft of county funds and last year’s unacceptable jail death, there is a serious breach of the public trust, which must be addressed and restored. In addition, employee morale in the department has been damaged due to these incidents, and there is an overall lack of day-to-day leadership in the department. I know, as I see it in my job daily.”
“It is my firm belief that administrative challenges and poor morale has impacted the quality of service delivered by the Sheriff’s Office and the safety of the people who live in Deschutes County. I plan to be the most visible and accessible Sheriff in many years. I will reach out across the nation to identify and institute law enforcement best practices for a community of our size and I will strengthen our ties with other law enforcement and community partners here in Central Oregon.”
Kozowski suggests he will have to, “adjust accordingly to master the political process,” saying, “Although I have never chosen to be a politician, this allows me to bring passion and vision to the position of Sherriff.”
“I have worked diligently throughout my life, and I am proud to have amassed a combination of extensive law enforcement, military, business, and technology experience. I believe I will not only restore the trust that has been lost but, I also intend to set a new, clear vision for the office, and lead the Sheriff’s Office into 21st Century public safety practices.”
You can learn more about Kozowski’s campaign at http://www.kozowski4sheriff.com/
Media information can be found at http://www.kozowski4sheriff.com/media
Paid for by Eric Kozowski for Deschutes County Sheriff
