Q&A with Mineral County sheriff candidate Gretchen Webb

Editor's Note: Mineral County voters will choose a new sheriff in the Nov. 8 general election. Ryan Funke won the Republican primary. Gretchen Webb later entered the race as an independent and her name will be on the ballot.

Since I became a full-time resident of Mineral County, I have watched sheriffs come and go, criminal investigations not being conducted properly, jail closing and opening, and the citizens losing confidence in our Sheriff’s Office.

I was disheartened to watch the decline in confidence of our law enforcement. I am a retired captain, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, with 32 years of law enforcement experience. I have the knowledge, skill and tenacity to turn this department in a positive direction. I do not quit.

In 1975, I was introduced to law enforcement and became a part-time dispatcher. Attended Florida State University, receiving my bachelor’s degree (1980) in criminal justice with a specialty certificate in law enforcement. Then I attended the police academy and received my POST certificate in 1980.

I continued to work as a road patrol officer until I was transferred to the Organized Crime Bureau (1983) where I worked as undercover agent. Investigating narcotics, gangs, racketeering and homicide. During this time, I became a negotiator with the Special Response Team. In 1987, I was promoted to sergeant and became the first female road patrol sergeant for the agency.


I had many obstacles to overcome. But the most glaring obstacle was the Field Training Program. I recognized that the San Jose program was not legally defensible. On my own time, I began to re-write the program. The FTO manual became a “how to” manual for each new deputy. Each crime was described, all of the elements of the crime, and how to investigate. Upon completion of this manual, it was adapted for a sergeants and investigators program.

As a Sergeant, I also realized my education was not complete. I continued to learn on my own time, taking additional educational courses and became a part-time instructor at the police academy. I taught general law and liability courses, narcotics investigation, and high liability (Firearms, baton, pursuit driving, defensive tactics, and more).

In 1996 the agency selected me to attend the University of Louisville, Southern Police Institute – Administrative Officers Course. Having to spend four months in Louisville, Kentucky, learning administrative and management skills. As a supervisor (Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain) was assigned to many different areas within the Sheriff’s Office. Internal Affairs, Organized Crime Bureau, Training Bureau, Field Training Unit, Special Response Team, and the Eagle Academy (corrections oriented – school/boot camp for at risk youths).Each assignment teaching me something new and expanding my skills.

With my experience, knowledge and training I recognize the needs of Mineral County and am equipped with the knowledge, skills and tenacity, to move the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office in a positive direction.

The last three sheriffs of Mineral County stayed about two years each. Why do you think that is, and what are you going to do differently?

I believe the lack of managerial experience lead to the previous sheriffs leaving office early. Knowledge of the law is not the only requirement of being a sheriff. The sheriff should read and review reports, making sure the elements of each crime is listed, list all witnesses and follow the leads in the criminal investigation. My training in investigations, will be passed onto the current deputies of Mineral County.

How many more deputies do you feel the MCSO needs, and how are you going to make this happen? What is your timeline to have them on staff?

MCSO needs 15 law enforcement deputy sheriffs (does not include supervisors or support staff) to have full-time coverage, and at least two deputies per shift. MCSO needs a five and 10-year plan to implement these staffing needs. With my background and experience in management, I not only intend to demonstrate this need to our commissioners, I will lobby our legislators to access more money for staffing and equipment.

West end residents say crime in their area is on the rise. What is your plan for this area?

The West End has already started a crime watch group and the Sheriff’s Office must support this endeavor. The crime watch members have gathered information on people who frequent known drug houses, and the Sheriff’s Office has been slow or completely failed to respond. We must make the citizens of this county a priority. A major part of my career was working in the Organized Crime Bureau. Conducting undercover investigations in illegal narcotics, motorcycle gangs, and racketeering operations. As Sheriff, I will assign deputies to “directed patrol.” This means observing and patrolling the suspected residences, and making traffic stops on suspicious vehicles. This will develop probable cause to gain search warrants for vehicles and residences. In addition, I will request the assistance of outside agencies (DCI and DEA) to conduct undercover narcotic investigations in Mineral County. The totality of information, along with outside agency assistance, will give the law enforcement the legal leverage to conduct search warrants and put a dent in the illegal narcotics distribution.

A School Resource Officer has been on the table for years to cover all schools in the county. If this is a priority for you, how are you going to complete this challenge?

School Resource Officers are very important to community involvement by the law enforcement community. We currently do not have the funding for additional deputies to be assigned specifically as School Resource Officers. Initially, I will assign a deputy to interact with each school. I will expect the assigned deputy to go the campus of each school and meet with the superintendent, principals and reachers. The deputy assigned to the school will attend staff meetings, student events, and interact with the students during the semester. Additionally, working with each School District for additional funding for part-time deputies to fill the position of SRO. Educational Grants is an excellent source. Plus, all deputies need to be trained not only as an SRO, but also in the area of sexual assault, domestic violence and school security (environmental design).

What is your first priority as the Sheriff of Mineral County?

The highest priority item is restoring the community’s faith in the Sheriff’s Office. To restore faith in our Sheriff’s Office, I plan to form a community over-site committee. The committee would consist of five vetted (background check) volunteers. One person from West End, St. Regis, Superior, Fish Creek/Tarkio and Alberton. As each item is addressed, the committee volunteers could inform their community of the accomplishments, obstacles/setbacks and dangers.