At one-year mark, Huff reflects on job
Monday, November 21, 2005 12:13 PM PST
Andrew Cutler Argus Observer
PAYETTE
It has been nearly a year since Payette County Sheriff Chad Huff assumed the mantle as the top cop in the county.
Even now, he said he sometimes has a hard time believing he actually is the sheriff.
“The respect the position has is truly overwhelming sometimes,” Huff said. “When I'm met in the hall by (citizens) and they address me as sheriff, that's pretty cool.
“It's been exciting. It's been everything I thought it would be and then some. It's just been an unbelievable job. I'm excited about it, and I'm excited about the future.”
Huff, who took over Jan. 10, ran unopposed in last November's election, after defeating longtime county D.A.R.E. officer Kay J. Moore in the May primary. Huff, who beat Moore 2,197 to 824, replaced Bob Barowsky, who decided not to run for reelection, ending a 24-year run as sheriff.
“He's been a really good neighbor. We've worked out a number of issues,” Malheur County Sheriff Andy Bentz said of Huff. “The High Desert Task Force, for example, was completed with him being one of the participants. The task force has been a good deal that he has participated in. He's been a really good neighbor.”
Huff, who began his law enforcement career in 1993 as a detention officer in the Payette County jail, said one of his first priorities as sheriff was to improve the lines of communication between his office and the community. For the most part, Huff said he has accomplished that goal.
“My door is always open, I have an open door police to the community, as well as to all my other officers and my administrators,” Huff said. “I really think the reason I don't have near the complaints is the fact I have opened that door.”
During 2004, the Payette County Sheriff's Office handled 360 cases and had a 63 percent clearance rate. Huff believes when the 2005 statistics are released in July, there will be a significant rise in cases for his department.
“The total offenses will have a rise, and that's based on crimes against society, which are drug crimes,” Huff said. “But I think you will see crimes against persons and crimes against property decrease.”
Huff credits a more proactive approach to drugs and the proactive approach of the High Desert Task Force as a key reason for the potential increase in total offenses for Payette County.
“That was one of my campaign promises to the citizens of Payette County, was to really work on getting drugs off the street,” he said. “And I think we have done that. Do I think we have a good start? You bet.”
Huff oversees 40 full-time employees, including deputies and jailhouse personnel, 10 part-time deputies and four part-time employees. Huff credits the smooth transition to the hard work of those around him.
“I think a lot of our success is due to our employees,” he said. “I have given them the latitude to do their job without being micromanaged. They really stepped up and have made me look very good.”
mike may wrote on Oct 28, 2009 12:47 AM: