I’m sure if you are like me, you generally get your news from social media, such as Facebook or one of the other social platforms.
Because, as we all know, the stories and claims on the internet are always true and accurate.
Well, they are not, but if you enjoy being entertained or if you’re just foolish enough to believe them all, public education and critical thinking have failed you.
One of the things I notice, though, is perhaps the most common argument against conservative points is not an argument based in fact but a single name — Donald Trump. Name calling is also high on the list, but those opposed to conservative ideas mostly just obsess about Trump.
I’m not certain in some cases what the president’s connection is to the topic at hand, but I guess for some that’s all they’ve got.
Take for example the current Lewis County sheriff’s race, specifically as it related to recently-fired Centralia Police Department Sgt. Tracy Murphy, who remains a candidate.
The issue has been in the news a lot lately. Reading the articles being reported and then venturing into the comments on social media, I mostly see supporters of Tracy claiming it's all a smear campaign.
Full disclosure: I’ve known Tracy a long time, most of which was a long time ago. I have no reason to accuse him or anyone else with anything, because I don’t have all the facts.
But frankly neither do any of the people crowing about it on social media, aside from those directly involved.
Meanwhile, in the Facebook comments, there are a lot of claims of corruption. “Powerful people must not want Tracy because they are scared of what he will find,” is a common theme.
By the way, by referring to him as Tracy, I mean no disrespect. I just have trouble thinking of him as Mr. Murphy.
I have found in my experience that there is much more incompetence than corruption in local government.
I’m not suggesting there is no corruption, just that I’ve only seen it in very small ways, and usually it's been at the employee level, not the elected official. None that I know of made off with millions and moved to Hawaii; they’re still coming to work and around here.
However, names of local folks have been tossed out in comments as corrupt even though, as of yet, not a single fact supporting any of it has been produced.
As far as I can tell, it’s simply gossip.
Years ago in Pierce County, the appointed sheriff was in fact investigated for a series of serious crimes and arrested because there were facts and evidence. The investigation was carried out by federal agents, if I recall correctly, and was treated seriously and adjudicated properly.
If someone has facts, evidence or other information suggesting criminal behavior of any of the named principles being tossed around, they should get it to the proper authorities.
It’s not hard. The FBI has confidential phone numbers to call.
But, somehow, I just don’t think such evidence exists.
As far as I can tell from actual reporting, Tracy was let go for being untruthful, which, if true, is a serious issue.
But it’s also true if there were any truth to the gossip he’d likely have used the proper channels to get it investigated. In his previous role as the JNET supervisor, he’d know how to do that.
As far as I know, it hasn’t happened.
This is campaign season and there are a number of candidates for several offices. Much will be said about some of them, and some of it will be from faceless keyboard cowboys and cowgirls making statements that are not true — or just unsupported gossip or manipulation of information to reach their desired political ends.
As far as I can tell from the reporting so far, this isn’t about corrupt officials trying to prevent Tracy Murphy from becoming sheriff.
It looks like it’s about an allegation of untruthfulness.
I’m sure there will be more to come as he’s appealed his termination, and the Criminal Justice Training Commission will have more to say at some point about his certification.
Meanwhile, I look forward to reading more as facts come out.
The sheriff is a very important position and we deserve to know all we can about all the candidates before we vote.
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John McCroskey was Lewis County sheriff from 1995 to 2005. He lives outside Chehalis and can be contacted at musingsonthemiddlefork@gmail.com.
