I have been reading the diatribes on our sheriff’s running for election and am reminded of how different things are today than they were prior to Duke being elected. Sheriff Brown had a running battle with the county commissioners and lots of conflicts in the department. Sheriff Gardner was continually running a publicity campaign and made his department look bad when he dropped his gun in the middle of the street in Ignacio after the bank robbery, and set a brush fire that let the bank robber escape. Also, when an airplane crashed, he would not allow individuals the opportunity to assist until snowcats arrived. In the interim, the passengers were walking out in deep snow. At other times, he conveniently was not available.
When Duke took over, he changed the complexion of the department and it started to function properly. He gave his deputies responsibility and held them accountable. It wasn’t “big I, little u” as it was with previous sheriffs, About Duke’s comments on the changes in Durango, it unfortunate that it is being used out of context. Durango has changed, not only by the large influx of immigrants, but the types and volume of crime. Durango used to be predominately an agricultural town – and it is now predominantly oriented toward tourism. With tourism comes many individuals that prey on these individuals, and the use of drugs is rampant. Duke has conducted many operations in concert with the state and the federal governments. He doesn’t blow his own horn, but keeps a low profile and silently improved his department. The size has grown to 140 deputies and a budget of $15 million. He moved to new quarters and the responsibility is enormous.
There has been a lot of false information put out about Duke. His ex-wives and sons have contradicted the propaganda. Elections are getting dirtier and dirtier each year, and we must be vigilant in sorting the wheat from the chaff. Duke has done a tremendous job, and he deserves to be reelected.
Franklin Anderson
Ignacio
