By Andi Elliott

As we drove to church in Rigby on Sunday, I noticed a couple of re-elect Blair Olsen for Sheriff signs. It gave me pause to reflect on the accusations surfacing from local newspaper investigations about this long standing Sheriff.

What would be the proper course of action in regards to solving this matter and alleviating citizens’ concerns? The sheriff could continue to ignore the questions asked by taxpayers and the Commissioners could turn a blind eye again to citizens’ requests for transparency. But it seems to me that an honorable course of action that would be appropriate at this point (and we all want to think of our elected officials as honorable men) would be to take or be placed on administrative leave and then allow an independent investigation to be conducted. An impartial inquiry would answer a lot of questions without which the reputations of the sheriff, the county commissioners, and the local prosecutor will remain shrouded in secrecy and mistrust.

When two of our Jefferson County deputies tell me personally that a new Sheriff is needed, it seems to me to be perfectly clear…that a new Sheriff is needed. But let’s step back and look at the evidence and not be swayed by opinion. An investigation would determine the all important facts. Bottom line… “it’s about restoring public trust” and there is no other way around it. It’s simply a matter of honor.

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