Dear Editor:
Today, [Monday, November 27, 2017,] I filed the paperwork with the County Clerk, to have my name placed on the ballot to be the next Sheriff of Whiteside County. My name is Tim Fisher. Over the last few months I’ve been asked two questions that I’d like to answer.
The first question is, “Why do you want to be Sheriff of Whiteside County?”
I love law enforcement. I knew at a very early age that I wanted to be a law enforcement officer. By the time I was in junior high, I had a plan of how to meet my goal of being a law enforcement officer. I stuck to that plan and have enjoyed a long career of serving the public as a Police Officer. I take great joy in helping and serving my community beyond law enforcement. I have served on the School Board at Sterling Christian School. I currently serve on a committee whose goal is to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness.
The second question is, “Why should I vote for you?”
First, I am unapologetically Christian. My deep rooted belief in God directs my values and the decisions I make. For instance, I believe that every human being that ever walked the face of this earth is a direct descendant of Adam and Eve. Because of that, I believe that every person, regardless of the pigment in their skin, should be treated with dignity and respect. Secondly, I believe that I am accountable not only to God and the citizens I serve, but to my family for the decisions I make. I have been married to my beautiful wife for 24 years. We have five daughters. I could not imagine going home and telling my wife and kids that I had been dishonest in my career.
If I [were] running to be a Sunday School teacher, that might be enough. However, I am running to be Sheriff. There are some great guys running to be Sheriff, but that doesn’t make them qualified. I believe that what sets me apart is my experience and education. Following the plan I made in junior high, I signed up as a Military Police Officer in the United States Army as soon as they would let me, at 17 years old. I left for the regular Army a few days after my 18th birthday. I served honorably and held a Top Secret clearance. I served in Utah and then was sent to Germany when the Berlin Wall came down. I remained in Germany during the first Gulf War.
After leaving the military I paid for and put myself through the Police Academy. I graduated second in my class. I worked for the Rockton, IL, Police Department for two years and then for my home town of Rock Falls, IL, for over 18 years. While in Rock Falls, I was trained and certified as a Dispatcher. I worked several shifts as the Dispatcher. I worked in Patrol and in Investigations. I served as a K-9 officer. As the K-9 officer, I trained with, and responded to, incidents with the tactical team. I was promoted to Sergeant in 1999. I have almost 14 years experience supervising law enforcement officers. My fellow officers in Rock Falls elected me to be Vice-President of the union for 12 years. I also served on the contract negotiation team.
One of the major issues facing law enforcement today is how to deal with the mentally ill. I currently work at KSB Hospital as a Mental Health Crisis Preventionist. I am a certified instructor in the Crisis Prevention Institute’s verbal and hands-on de-escalation techniques.
I not only have the experience, I have the education. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Religion Biblical Studies. I am a graduate of the Supervision of Police Personnel course. I have attended numerous on-the-job training classes as a Police Officer.
To sum this up, If one wants to elect the most popular or the one who spends the most money on his campaign, I am not the one to vote for. If, however, one wants to elect the person who has a desire to help people, the one with the most experience, and the one with the most education then elect me, Tim Fisher, to be the next Sheriff of Whiteside County.
There is a video announcement at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsrUT22mtCQ&feature=youtu.be.
Thank you,
Tim Fisher