Tom Jones plans to fix jail, communications

MOSES LAKE — Sheriff-elect Tom Jones has a few ideas for Grant County once he starts his four-year term in January.

He said he’d like to participate in community meetings, talk to citizens more and possibly even arrange a biweekly or monthly radio show to listen to the community’s concerns.

It’s all in an attempt to reconnect the sheriff’s office with the public, he said.

“During my campaign, I personally talked to hundreds of people who thought the sheriff’s office was not responding to calls the way they should and not getting the result they felt like they deserved,” said the 41-year-old. “The community is our eyes and ears of the county.”

Jones unseated two-term sheriff Frank DeTrolio in the general election.

Once in office, Jones said, he plans to do a complete assessment of the county jail and work release program.

“I’d like to see what we’re doing and what we’re not doing. The goal is to either lessen the burden of inmates or jail restrictions in the jail,” said Jones, who currently serves as a Grant County patrol sergeant for the Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team.

The Grant County Jail has been operating since January 1986, according to the county.

The institution was originally designed to hold 86 inmates, according to Undersheriff John Turley.

The jail currently incarcerates 208 inmates, he said.

Jones said there will be more communication between the prosecutor’s office and other agencies to develop a plan for the overcrowded jail.

“The sheriff’s office cannot work alone. Nor another jurisdiction by themselves,” he said.

He acknowledged the disconnect between the patrol and corrections department of the sheriff’s office.

“We all wear the same badge, we need to communicate with each other and be consistent in making sure our employees are all on the same page. We cannot leave out any section of the sheriff’s office,” he said.

Some of the top issues he said that needs to be addressed in those conversations will be the county’s gang problem and crimes in rural communities; particularly, violent crimes.

Another task Jones will be faced with once he is in office is appointing the five-person team around him.

Those positions include the undersheriff, chief deputy of patrol, chief deputy of finances, chief deputy of corrections and chief administration assistant.

“I’m considering a large pool of qualified personnel in the agency at this point,” said Jones. “I have not made a decision yet, I’m looking at a wide range. I’m not ready to divulge who I’m going to appoint yet.”

Jones was diagnosed in July with acute myeloid leukemia, during his campaign.

He said he is in remission now and has about two more weeks of follow-up appointments.

He said the leukemia treatment left him weak and unable to preform work duties as patrol sergeant for several weeks. But with the optimistic prognosis, he said he is excited to start his term as sheriff.

“I am very excited to be the next sheriff of Grant County,” he said. “I am ready for the challenge.”

Jones has been with the sheriff’s office for the past 14 years.

He started out as a road deputy, promoted to patrol corporal and finally, promoted in 2003 to his current patrol sergeant position.