Effort to recall sheriff is all about Fortney, his actions

Sheriff Adam Fortney’s politicizing statements that conflate the recall effort against him with the movement to ‘defund police’, is yet another reason he should be recalled (“Fortney: Group pushing to defund police is behind recall,” The Herald, Sept. 12). Supporting his recall is not the same as wanting to defund police. This kind of politization of his department is the basis of eroding public confidence in his leadership. He ignores the importance of maintaining public trust and respect for the integrity of law enforcement, in the pursuit of his own agenda.

This recall is all about Fortney’s actions: A blatant refusal to enforce laws and policies that support public health and safety, his overt efforts to undermine them, and his embrace of officers who lie and assault suspects without legitimate cause. These actions (among others) have led to a significant loss of trust within the community. And now, he refuses to admit that his own lack of professional integrity is the real issue. If he is hearing calls for defunding our police, he has only to look at his own politicized leadership to understand why.

Ann Morgan

Everett