Not trusting Sheriff Fortney on his crime data claims

As a “leader” Sheriff Adam Fortney claims that he didn’t even read the crime statistics that his office puts out and then revels in and snidely points out that copies made sit in a store room because no one orders them (“Sheriff: Years of crime data ‘inaccurate,’” The Herald, July 10).

Maybe copies on demand could save time/space but keep the integrity of the office by publishing and actually reading and consulting with experts on the facts and data. As a publicly elected representative, it’s his responsibility to care, communicate and educate the electorate on why they should care and what can be done about the crime statistics. It’s his job!

Maybe a leader would recognize the value of the data and need for “real” analysis and actions. A 20-minute video devoid of crime data that in reality is a promo (for the sheriff) is of what value to who? Fortney is “choosing” to not consult with his own analyst experts (who actually look into these facts and statistics) and who clearly identified that “his” assertion that this extraneous data will affect crime statistics is false.

So we are supposed to “trust Fortney” that since the data was not being read, but that according to his own expertise was screwed up anyway since 2018 and now “he” is fixing it, so “now” we will rely on and use these crime statistics to inform and make policy decisions he puts forth? Don’t hold your breath.

A couple of weeks ago The Herald reported on Fortney’s “Factless Crime Alarm” statements that also gained local TV news press coverage. And we are all supposed to believe “his” statements about it being out of control; based upon what?

This smells of a “Fortney” fact-bending fear campaign to “scare” citizens and promote his namesake/brand leading into the next election cycle. Trust is important, and Fortney has demonstrated he considers this (Trust, truth, facts) values that “he” thinks the electorate DOES NOT care about.

Well guess what? Some of us do.

April Cole

Everett