Posted: 11/14/06
New sheriff will focus on communication, schools, drugs
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
It was time for a change, and county residents felt that too.
That is how Doug Ely views his election to Houston County Sheriff.
ìOtherwise they wouldnít have put me there,î he said on November 9.
Ely defeated Ken Frank in the election on November 7 by a margin of 4,862 to 3,959.
Ely was a Houston County deputy from 1990-1997. He worked most recently as sales manager at Eversole Motors in La Crosse, WI.
Frank was a 25-year veteran of the sheriffís department and most recently held the position of chief deputy.
Ely said it helped that he had been an insider looking out and then an outsider looking in. He felt that Houston County needed to be bonded together again and not the sheriffís department versus everybody else.
ìEverybody in the county wants to work together and I think itís time we get back to that,î he said.
Ely said on November 9 that he had already spoken with every chief of police in the county to get on the same page and work together.
There have been some broken ties, Ely said. ìThey just need to be repaired so we can move on.î
He would like to see officers spend more time in schools, go to functions, and have a relationship with teachers. ìTheyíll have that one-on-one relationship that they can talk to somebody.î
Ely also wants the department to work with schools to get emergency management plans in place in case of something like a school shooting occurs.
Drugs are rampant in the county, Ely feels. He said he will have one officer working drugs starting immediately. He also wants to meet with community members and groups, and thinks their input is vital to solving problems. ìWeíre going to start to focus on educating the community so when asked to help us, theyíll know how to help us,î he said.
Asked about who he would appoint as chief deputy, Ely said he would evaluate the situation.
One of his biggest challenges will be to make sure his own department is on the same page. Ely will try to make sure staff members know they can talk to him. He said he will have an open door policy. ìAs far as Iím concerned weíre starting on a clean page.î
ìI will be ready,î he said. ìThere will be no distractions or learning curve that needs to be done.î
Itís a busy and exciting time, Ely added. ìIíve had a smile on my face since Tuesday night at a quarter to 12.î
He also feels proud to know that Houston County elected someone who they want as sheriff. ìI feel very proud and fortunate to be that guy that was elected.î
Uncertain of future
Frank said on November 9 that his plans for the future are uncertain. ìWeíll see where life takes me,î he said.
Asked about his reaction to the election, Frank said he appreciated the support he received.
ìI appreciate the people that believed in the police work I did,î he said.
Frank started with Houston County in 1981 as a jailer/dispatcher. He worked as a part-time deputy from 1983 - 1985, then went to full-time. He became a lieutenant in 2001. Sheriff Mike Lee appointed him chief deputy in 2003.
If Frank is not appointed as chief deputy, he would no longer be an employee of the county, personnel director Tim Comstock said. He would be eligible to apply for any subsequent vacancies, but would not have any seniority, Comstock said.
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