A Herald reporter recently asked me for a statement concerning alleged policy violations on the part of an Island County deputy (news story, “Deputy may have shirked duty in assault: Woman was tied up at Whidbey Island cabin,” Feb. 11). The situation has subsequently received much publicity and speculation. There are numerous corollary issues that need to be addressed and I hope your publication will allow us some space to address these issues in the coming months. I do not know what will be revealed in the course of this investigation, but I know that it is not yet complete.

I deeply appreciate your desire to give everyone a voice, but I do not believe that statements made about this situation before the facts have been uncovered serve any legitimate purpose. At the time of the initial press release, the officer involved had not, to my knowledge, made a statement about the circumstances of the underlying event. Without that critical part of the puzzle, I do not know how we can form a true and accurate picture.

I believe that any person, including a cop, deserves the chance to have their statement heard before conclusions are drawn and arrows are fired. So why doesn’t the deputy involved just make a statement to the media? He can’t! This is an official proceeding. The deputy is restrained from speaking with anyone other than Guild representatives. On advise of our attorney he is not making statements about the situation. He must sit quietly with his family enduring whatever comes.

I have noticed an unexplainable eagerness to criticize and publicize events as soon as there is a perceived flaw in someone’s armor. I wonder why we are not as quick to acknowledge performance above and beyond the call of duty. I wonder how many times this deputy has saved a life without anyone even taking notice. I wonder how many times he entered a volatile situation alone where some departments, by policy, will not respond with less than three officers. I wonder how many times he has been justified in using deadly force, yet his training, skill and experience allowed him to end the situation with less violent means.

In the course of a given shift, the average law enforcement officer is presented with dozens, if not hundreds, of opportunities to make egregious errors with dire consequences. In the span of a 20-year career, there are thousands of situations wherein the smallest error could end one’s career or life. The odds against us are staggering when you really give it some thought.

Perhaps, no matter the final outcome of this investigation, we could all take a moment to thank this deputy for the thousands of times he entered the arena and fought the fight knowing full well the overwhelming odds against him. Perhaps we could all give him the benefit of the doubt and wait for the whole story to be told before we pass judgment.

Mark A. Plumberg is president of the Island County Deputy Sheriff’s Guild, Deputy Sheriff’s Division.