Washington County Sheriff’s race heats up
Three seek top county police slot

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“I’m young,” he said, “only 39 years old.”

Crimin said he is running for the sheriff’s slot because he wants to see a change in law enforcement in Washington County.

“My sole reason of running is that I am raising children in this community, and I want to make it safe for everyone. I have a lot to bring to the table,” Crimin said.

Crimin said he has plans to change some of the workings within the administration, but also conceded he does not plan to conduct a complete overhaul of the sheriff’s office.

“I wouldn’t come into office and say ‘everyone’s fired.’ ” Crimin said. “I won’t make drastic personnel changes.”

He said he plans on approaching personal goals with the police officers. 

“The guys need goals, and achievable goals,” he said. Crimin’s opponent and friend is Bob Attabery, a third-generation Washington County resident.

Attabery said he has worked for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for 10 years. He said he started as a dispatcher and worked as the jail administrator for six years. He was also a patrolman for “a few years” and left the sheriff’s office in 2005. He said he left the agency because he was “rather vocal for someone else in the last election.”

“Administrative duties is what I’m falling back on,” Attabery said. “I figure if I’ve done that, I’ve done the hardest part.  I’ve also had training as a supervisor.”

Attabery said he is running for the position because he believes there needs to be a different sheriff in the county.

“The reason I’m running (is) I didn’t think Scott was going to this time. I filed all my paperwork a little while before he did. I heard all over that they think they need a new sheriff,” Attabery said, “It’s my desire to do it, and it’s a job I know how to do.”

Attabery said he believes that the Washington County Sheriff’s Office personnel need better training. He also said there is a need for more employees with better compensation for the agency.

“We’re losing qualified individuals to other agencies that have better wages and better benefits. We’ve become a training ground,” Attabery said. “I think things could be a lot better in that respect.”

The third player in this political shootout is current sheriff Marvin Williams, who has been a Washington County resident for 35 years. Williams has lived both in the Weiser area and in the Cambridge area. He has worked for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office since 1987.

“I’ve been sheriff for two terms. It takes a while to learn how to be sheriff. It’s a very big job,” Williams said.

As sheriff for Washington County, Williams said he hopes to add more patrol assets in the county.

“We are the only law enforcement in Midvale and Cambridge,” Williams said. 

There is currently a satellite station for the county sheriff’s office in Cambridge situated at the city hall. 

Williams said there are plans to move the satellite station to the exhibit hall on the fairgrounds once its construction is completed.

“Another thing I’m working towards is cyber crimes,” Williams said. “An officer will be attending a three-day class the first of the month on cyber crimes, pedophiles that go online and find victims.”

Williams also said he knows the law enforcement issues facing Washington County, mainly drug and gang challenges.

All three candidates agree that these two issues need be addressed. They all said the best way to solve the problem is through training and public involvement.

“I think they’re looking into this area because it’s so unguarded because of lack of training,” Attabery said, “Training is a huge issue and we have a rather jokingly- small training budget for the county.”

Crimin said there needs to be more personnel committed to the drug task force.

He also said there needs to be a program to “provide training for parents and the community.”

“As far as drug and gang issues, a lot of it has to do with public involvement. (We need to) send a message that drugs and gangs are not welcome in Washington County,” Williams said.

Another issue the candidates agree on is the need for a stronger police presence in the Cambridge and Midvale areas.

“There’s 1,500 square miles in this county, so there’s a lot of country to cover with the amount of employees we have,” Williams said. 

Attabery said he plans to either add more patrol assets or set patrol schedules for individuals in order to keep a police presence in the Cambridge and Midvale areas.

“I want to guarantee a 24-hour police coverage,” Crimin said. “Having a deputy on call is not 24- hour coverage to me.”

Voting will take place Tuesday. 

“If you haven’t voted before, or if you haven’t voted in a while, go do it,” Attabery said.