Cyndie Fajardo (pronounced faa har doe) is running for Pierce County Sheriff. There are many reasons to vote for Lieutenant Fajardo.
Reason #1 to vote Fajardo for Sheriff is because of Lieutenant Fajardo’s and her family’s long involvement with LAW ENFORCEMENT and PUBLIC SERVICE, dating back to 1886.
Reason #2 to vote Fajardo for Sheriff relates to her LEADERSHIP profile.
Reason #3 to vote Fajardo for Sheriff is her EXPERIENCE.
Reason #4 to vote Fajardo for Sheriff is her time served as a PATROL OFFICER.
Cyndie Fajardo worked as a patrol officer for four years while serving the Arapaho County Sheriff’s Department from 1984 to 1988.
She went on to serve another four years as a patrol officer while working with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department from 1988 to 1992.
Eight years of patrol experience accomplishes and exceeds the commonly accepted law enforcement standard for patrol experience. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department requires a minimum of five years of patrol experience before a deputy can be promoted to sergeant to lead others in patrol.
When I started my law enforcement career in 1990, I was repeatedly told it would take three years working full time in patrol before I would have any reasonable understanding and grasp of the job.
I thought to myself, “Naa. I am a quick study. It will not take me three years.” In the end, my supervisors were right. It was three years before I knew which way was up. I needed the three years to experience most; still, not all, of the different types of 911 calls for service I would be dispatched to.
A Sheriff candidate with only two or three years of experience in patrol is not fully prepared to lead the patrol division as the department’s top cop.
Some officers experience problems with patrol because they divert from a patrol function to a non-patrol position such as Crime Stoppers or Dare before becoming well-grounded in patrol. These are essential jobs, but they do not necessarily prepare a candidate for becoming Sheriff.
If a candidate has zero experience with boots on the ground as a patrol officer, the candidate does not have a clue about the form and function of a patrol officer’s job. Knowing nothing and having never followed, makes it difficult to impossible to lead.
Look carefully at each of our four candidates for Pierce County Sheriff to determine if they are well-grounded in the patrol function. Patrol is the backbone of any police agency.
The most effective candidate for Sheriff must have an appropriate amount of time as a follower by having worked patrol before becoming a Sheriff with the crucial responsibility of leading patrol.
Lieutenant Cyndie Fajardo is well-grounded and experienced when it comes to having an understanding of and an ability to lead a police department’s patrol division.
Cyndie Fajardo’s website: www.fajardoforsheriff.com
Patrol experience is why Joe Boyle endorses Cyndie Fajardo for Pierce County Sheriff.
Joe, I love your enthusiasm on this topic. So far, you have been describing many things that point to potential and in some ways, you might be making a case against her.
For instance:
-Eight years of patrol work from 30 years ago, may not be very relevant today. A lot has changed over time.
-Being a contract chief for Steilacoom is loose commitment. It means that the town did not wish to hire a permanent Public Safety chief at the time so they simply paid the Sheriff’s department to provide someone who could handle the job. If the town bent over backwards to recruit her as a permanent chief, please tell more about that.
-If overseeing Steilacoom’s $1.5 mil budget with 13 full time employees is her only executive experience, it’s a huge stretch to jump into a role with a $300+ mil budget and over 400 employees. When you have 13, they all basically report to you. When you have 400, you have to manage managers and that is a very different skill set.
I don’t think I’ve ever met Cyndie Fajardo. Based on your profile, I’m pretty sure I would find her to be a wonderful person with many great qualities and long career in the Sheriff’s department. If I’m evaluating someone to hold the office of Sheriff, I have to consider the scope of the job and responsibilities. Of the four candidates, Doug Richardson is the only I know who has the qualifications for an executive office.
Perhaps you can provide a list of her career accomplishments that provide more insight.
If there is more to consider, please keep writing. You are a great source of information and entertainment. I always enjoy reading your articles. Thanks Joe!
Mr. Sean Graver,
Thank you for commenting. I appreciate the fact that you shared both your positive and negative thoughts.
Let me address at least several of your concerns, one at a time.
Eight years of patrol work 30 years ago is not the end of Cyndie Fajardo’s story.
Working patrol is like learning to ride a bicycle. It takes a while to get it, but once you get it, you got it. Like not forgetting how to ride a bike, you do not forget how to work patrol. Sure, things do change, but once you have internalized necessary patrol skills, you never forget.
While this particular article talks about her eight years as a patrol officer, Cyndie Fajardo went on to become a patrol sergeant. She served in that capacity a minimum of four years, giving her 12 years in patrol. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department promoted Cyndie Fajardo to the position of patrol lieutenant, ending up with a minimum of 15 years in patrol.
Other functions and responsibilities down through the years she was involved with were connected to patrol.
Cyndie Fajardo has not forgotten patrol.
You are correct, the Town of Steilacoom “simply paid” the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department to provide Cyndie Fajardo to serve as their chief of police, fire, and medical.
The indisputable fact is she served as chief, which was an excellent experience for taking on the Sheriff’s position. Not one of the other candidates has filled the role of Chief of Police.
If you feel committed to diminishing her roll in Steilacoom, her role is still much more significant than any other candidate in terms of having experience as the top cop.
Doug Richardson, who has always been an incredible public servant, has served as mayor and chairman. Cyndie Fajardo is not running for the city council or the county council. She is running to become Pierce County’s top cop.
I agree considering the scope of the job and responsibilities is something a thinking voter should do. Along with that is the need to consider each candidate’s background and experience with the particular job and responsibilities involved with the position.
Let us imagine Doug Richardson running for Congress. Doug gets my vote in a heartbeat over Cyndie Fajardo. As he runs for Pierce County Sheriff, he gets my vote right behind Cyndie Fajardo, because Cyndie Fajardo, in my opinion, is the best choice for this particular position.
With an open and analytical mind, you have asked me to provide more information about why I believe Cyndie Fajardo is the most highly qualified to become our next Pierce County Sheriff.
I will comply with your request. This particular article is Reason #4. I have already written Reasons #5, #6, #7, and #8, which will soon appear on a computer screen near you. These additional articles provide more information about Cyndie Fajardo’s patrol background, as well as other qualifications.
I shall now begin to write, Vote Cyndie Fajardo For Sheriff, Reason #9.
Mr. Graver, thanks again for reading and commenting.