Howie reviews his work as sheriff

To The Eagle:

There is one quote by Abraham Lincoln that is included at the end of all of my emails from the sheriff. It is this: “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place is proud of him.” The core values of the sheriff's office are “Service with Integrity and Respect.” These are two basic credos I live by every day.

I stand before you as a man of integrity and honor and know that those who have known me for half a day, or half a century, can attest to my actions both on and off duty. Everything I do is to provide the best public safety services to this county in a friendly, approachable, and professional manner. I expect that of myself and of those who work in the sheriff's office.

No, I am not perfect and yes I have made mistakes. But I will continue to give 110 percent as your sheriff! The things most important to me in life are my faith, my family, and my community. I have followed the calling of public service my whole life.

I will close with mentioning just a few of the improvements we have made in the sheriff's office the past four years. This includes assigning a liaison deputy to the schools, bringing deputies and preschool kids together for events, coffee with a cop, shop with a cop, upgrading our equipment and technology, consolidating desktop computers with in-car computers saving thousands of county dollars, and Text-911 capabilities to our dispatch center. All the while our crime rates stay low and in some cases have dropped. I continue to balance our budget year after year and seek ways to cut spending.

I did not accomplish this by myself. It has taken the entire office and 40 plus volunteers to make these things happen! Hopefully my actions have spoken as loud as my words as a citizen of the county for more than 13 years, and as your sheriff for over six. Most would agree I have provided stability and leadership from the start of my tenure. I would like the chance to move our office further into the future but in a way that matches the culture, pace, and lifestyle of our incredible county. As your friend and as your sheriff, let’s journey on another four years together to keep Wahkiakum County safe. Help me continue to oversee a great sheriff's office with an excellent staff, who protect and serve with honor!

Mark Howie

Wahkiakum County Sheriff