Was I at the same forum that's being talked about from last month between the Lewis County sheriff candidates?
The one I attended at times seemed like a training session for used car salesmen.
"This beauty was only driven to church on Sunday by a little old lady" sort of pitch.
At other times, I was reminded of the famous scene from the Star Wars movie: "Move along, nothing to see here!"
It was hard for the sheriff candidates to talk about goals and solutions, as the event continued to focus on Tracy Murphy and his termination from the Centralia Police Department.
Why?
Tracy was asked the question and he answered it. He said straight out he never talked about the accusations involving Sheriff Rob Snaza and the apparent allegation he (Snaza) protected drug dealers and helped procure drugs for elected officials and the publisher of The Chronicle to anyone, not even his wife.
One would think that would be the end of it, and everyone could move forward.
Boy, I was wrong.
While I am supporting another candidate, I'll always stand up for any police officer that is accused unjustly. I have known Murphy since he was a young boy. I have known his family. We had a mutual connection through the police department as K-9 handlers. I trust him.
I was shocked on a recent Friday morning when I heard the local radio talk show "Let's Talk About It" on KELA.
The morning show's guest was Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope. A caller on the show asked the commissioner if Tracy Murphy had ever told him about the accusations regarding Sheriff Snaza.
Commissioner Swope stated that Tracy had in fact talked to him about the Snaza accusations.
Tracy and Swope can't both be telling the truth.
If Tracy is the victim of a political attack, as he states, then due process should clear this up. Return Murphy to the police department and write him a nice check with no less than six zeros in it.
Get off Murphy’s back if he’s innocent.
If Murphy is guilty, then explain yourself, ask for forgiveness or call it a day. The voters deserve the truth, whatever it is.
All four of the candidates have worked about 20 years as police officers. They deserve our respect and support. Running for an elected office is not easy on the candidate, their family or the community.
But we have the right to know what they bring to the office they seek.
We should not be forced to try and figure out if dirty politics is part of a campaign, if the candidate is being falsely accused, or we are being given honest facts. At one time or another, most of us have been wrongly accused.
Is that the case now?
Or is the truth just hard to hear?
Bradd Reynolds
Retired Centralia police officer
