The Forum asked both candidates running for San Miguel County Sheriff, Lane Masters and Dan Covault, the same set of questions on West End issues. Voters will decide who will serve as sheriff in the November election.
What's your philosophy in peacekeeping?
I have been a peace officer for 13 years now, most of that time as a city cop. I worked in a much busier, higher crime environment than we are used to here, and I saw a lot of police policy/procedures that do not work. Aggressive policing, handcuffs, and jails don’t solve much. Competent, trained, informed, and networked deputies can wield more tools to help actually solve people’s problems. All too often cops focus on the “what” of something that has happened. Rarely are they concerned with the “why” and almost never the “how,” as in “How can I (a peace officer) help this person, suspect or survivor, so that this doesn’t happen to them again?” That is the fundamental mission shift I want to see. I want to involve service providers, co-responders, and anyone else I can bring to the table to help intervene and resolve issues for all the people of San Miguel County. Everyone needs help sometimes. When somebody isn’t sure where to turn, I want them to be comfortable calling their sheriff’s office. Regardless of the problem, we’ll help find you a solution.
Where do you stand on the flock cameras and license plate cameras?
This is an important topic, so I’m going to continue to put my bottom line up front: As sheriff I will be taking the Sheriff’s Office cameras down and canceling the contract. The Flock/LPR cameras are absolutely a viable tool, and I have used them as a deputy, detective, supervisor, and intelligence officer with genuine success. That said, I have philosophical concerns about government surveillance, and concerns about data security from outside entities, including the company. I have two thoughts. One, the easiest way to know that this data cannot be misused is to ensure it doesn’t exist in the first place. Two, it is apparent to me that the community does not want these devices, and I don’t think it is right to spend taxpayer funds on something the taxpayers obviously don’t want.
How will you specifically work for Wright's Mesa? Can you share insight into how you can best serve town/county out here?
I want to see the Sheriff’s Office and public safety in general being bolstered on Wright’s Mesa. Having worked for both the Sheriff’s Office and TMO, I can say that there is a disparity in service there. In the East, there is more training and more services being provided. I want to see programs like the Rescue Task Force implemented, wherein NFPD would work and train directly with SMSO for rescue operations in a potential mass casualty/shooter incident. I also want to see the return of a School Resource Officer to Norwood Schools. This will have to be the right person, properly vetted. School safety is a top priority, and one I’m not willing to sacrifice. The school district’s belt is already tight, but the taxpayers of Norwood are also already paying for the sheriff's service. I aim to provide an SRO without any additional charge to schools. Anywhere there is a concentration of people, gathering, events, etc., let’s have a deputy present for peace of mind.
Does peacekeeping have any role in the mental health situation we are in out in the West End?
Absolutely it does, and that paradigm has shifted for the better over the past decade. While deputies are a part of a proper response, they are not the entire solution. The co-responder program is the best system we have right now, and I want to see it expanded. I recently used this program on a subject having a crisis, who came to my attention because of a crime. When I realized it was a mental health issue, the gears shifted to a co-responder method. While successful, it did take more than eight hours to get the person sorted out. That’s a long time with a deputy for a person having a crisis. I can recognize that some people are traumatized by prior police contact too. Too much can go wrong with too much time. I’d like to see a multi-disciplinary review board assembled to evaluate each use of the co-responder program, so we can sharpen that tool and streamline the process to make it as efficient as possible for the sake of the person in crisis.
What do you want voters in the West End to know about you? Or, what else would you like to share?
I know I’m from, live, and currently work in the East End of the county, but that does not mean I am myopic about the East. Our whole county population is around the same as a couple city blocks where I used to work. I like to say we’re all one neighborhood separated by a valley. Even after I left the Sheriff's Office, I have committed my time and effort to support our neighbors to the west. I founded a nonprofit specifically to be a conduit for funds for youth programs in the West End. Through this foundation we have sponsored a wrestling team and a baseball team so far. I also personally sponsored an additional baseball team, and have been a supporter of 4-H through personally purchasing projects over the past three consecutive years. I am a member of two charity organizations, the Elks Club and Rotary, and have been involved in stretching programs like the Elks school supplies drive to Wright’s Mesa. I aim to see these things continue to expand to build up all the communities of San Miguel County.
Author’s note: Everything that follows was written by me, without the use of AI. You deserve to know me, the real me, in my own words.
Editor’s note: Part 2 with Dan Covault runs next week.
