MILTON — Bob Johnson prevailed as the favorite in this week’s election to replace retiring Sheriff Wendell Hall.
According to the county’s supervisor of elections office, Johnson — who takes office on Jan. 3 — won the position with more than 56 percent, or 13,605 votes, out of 41 voting precincts. Opponent Chris Roper received 24 percent of the vote.
Johnson, who has worked with sheriff’s office for the past 23 years, credited his supporters for the victory.
“I don’t feel like I won, this was a conglomerate effort,” he said. “They really helped me get my message out there.”
The message was Johnson’s background in law enforcement. In addition to serving as the department’s chief deputy, second in command to the sheriff, Johnson’s resume includes experience in many of the department’s units along with a master’s and bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
“I think the population wants someone with the education and leadership experience,” he said. “When you bring someone who is new, it’s scary. This isn’t like a regular job. When we make mistakes, people can die.”
Johnson credited Hall with sharing his expertise on the position and continuing to lead the department in the right direction. Johnson said Hall’s leadership made the county one of the safest in the state.
According to the state legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, Santa Rosa ranked 60th in 2015 in terms of crime rate out of 67 counties.
What’s next for the department?
Well, Johnson said he anticipates meeting with Superintendent of Schools Tim Wyrosdick along with county commissioners in coming up with a plan to bring more resource officers to the public school system.
Just high schools have resource officers available, but Johnson said he wants to have deputies present in middle and elementary schools, too.
“We definitely want to create a positive image (of law enforcement) at a young age,” Johnson said. “By high school they may have already formed their opinion.”
In dealing with a growing population, Johnson said he anticipates working with county officials in not only hiring more deputies but raising their starting pay as well.
“We have to grow with the population or crime will go up…it makes common sense,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: More school resource officers among new sheriff's plans