"I do not want your vote for a change...I want your vote to make a difference"            Steve Kendley

This page is dedicated to individuals who asked specific questions of Steve through email, then his reply.  Steve can be reached by sending and email to:
 sheriffkendley@gmail.com 

Email #1
Steve-
Thanks for the email. I sent out your site/information and asked people to consider supporting you financially. However, A few people have written back to me concerning this in your goals:
 In an email "Kevin" asked:
"4. Our school resource program needs to be extended to include a youth detective program, specifically during the summer time when school is not in session."
I have had emails asking me to explain what this program is all about. Since, I really do not understand what this program encompasses, I would ask that you could clarify this statement concerning the school resource program.
 
Thanks Again
 
Kevin
Steve's reply:

Hi Kevin,
I favor a school resource program that follows "community oriented policing". The point of community orientated policing is that the citizen is the "customer" and the police officer is the servant of that customer. It is a philosophy of service. The goal I had when I was a school resource officer is first, increased safety for the special segment of citizens that attend school and second to inspire an attitude by example that the "policeman is your friend" to a young student. I spent time with grade school children just being a role model, educating on safety and showing a police officer that was a real person- not someone who just shows up when a family member is in trouble with the law.  Many youth today do not have positive male role models and many only see peace officers when there is a crisis. For older students, I loved to speak about the Constitution, citizen rights,or even what can be expected if a person is issued a citation. I attempted to make respectful relationships with the older students in the hope that this would motivate them to make wise decisions.
The selection of who fills the position of school resource officer is of up-most importance. This should be an officer who has some of the following characteristics; 1. a seasoned officer, 2.family oriented/ married, 3. a people person who is involved in the community, 4. lover of animals / wildlife (I know that sounds unrelated, but it shows trates that I believe are vital), 5. a team player in attitude, etc.
***Interestingly, I would want these same trates for officers whom I would consider for SWAT- along with a love of firearms and shooting. Rambo attitudes do must be culled from such special teams...and departments.
The purpose of having a school resource officer is not to turn our schools into prisons, it must be tailored to each school to accomplish a goal to assist students in becoming successful citizens. If a school does not feel they want this program, it should not be forced upon them.  As far as providing for safety, my attitude was that I protected the most innocent and vulnerable of society. If anyone had a goal of harming the students I served, I was determined to make their attempt so costly that they would ultimately fail and I was and am still prepared to give the ultimate sacrifice for that goal if necessary.
Now, with that lengthy preamble, my goal with the youth detective program is to utilize an officer that fits the above characteristics, to specialize in serving in conjunction with Lake County's Youth Court, when our local schools are not in session. Many of our School Resource Officers may welcome a change to typical patrol duties with the summer season, but I believe there is a need for a suitable officer to continue to focus on juvenile issues and crimes committed by juveniles in the summer months.
I hope I answered you question, as you can see, I believe it required a rather lengthy answer. I expect many might raise a eyebrow at the mention of wanting "police in schools". It is an area that could be and probably is abused in many cases.  If you keep it in the context of a sheriff's office who's members hold the Constitution dear, it is a good service to provide to youth.
Sincerely,
Steve 

Email #2

Steve;
 
My name is ****.  I have lived in Lake County my entire life as have several generations of my family.  I have a vested interest in Lake county due to that fact alone.  I have children and want to keep this area SAFE for them to live now and in the future.
 
I have two questions and/or concerns that I would like answered at this time. 
 
#1.  How, as a Sheriff do you intend on monitoring Flathead Lake?  I am not interested in the answer that the boat will be put in the lake.  I want to know, in detail, what your thoughts and plan of action to monitor the Lake's growing activities.  I am part of Lake County Search and Rescue and my husband and I have personally rescued countless persons from the lake and have managed multiple drownings.  I am curious about boating laws and how they will be enforced.
 
#2.  Sexual and Violent predators:  Do you think they are being managed effectively?  If not, how are you going to change and/or monitor this situation better?
 
Thank you for your time.  I have other questions but a few at a time are sufficient.
 
Thank you,
****

Steve's reply:

Hello ****,
 I am interested in methods to improve service to Lake County citizens and visitors. The answer to how I intend to monitor Flathead lake, involves Sheriff's Office presence on the lake and on the lake shore. The Sheriff's Boat, like a patrol vehicle provides two benefits. First, Officer presence on the lake (or anywhere in the county) is the first level in crime deterrence.  It is the first level in what is known as the "use of force continuum". The mere presence of sheriff's patrol personal in an area is a huge deterrent to criminal behavior. The simple fact is, people behave with more care and safety when there are deputies in the area. The second benefit of a marine patrol is better response time to emergency situations and to crimes. If there is a patrol vehicle roaming a high traffic area, verses parked in the boat shed or a patrol car sitting at the courthouse, the odds are that that response will be faster. Faster response is what I believe citizens expect and what I will strive for as Sheriff. In my mind, if someone needs help, the timeliness of that response is a large part of the effectiveness of that service.
 I have given thought to measuring response time and goal setting with the deputies as to how to make response time quicker- as a tool to improve service to citizens.
The Sheriff's Boat is an expensive piece of equipment and its deployment must be done in such a way as to intelligently place the craft where it will encounter other boaters, keeping high visibility along with being in position where events are expected to be happening through the summer. In conjunction with the marine presence, I will encourage our patrol deputies/vehicles to make frequent visits to the various campgrounds and shoreline destinations as part of each land and marine vehicles patrol shift mission. I personally make this a part of my mission when I am able to be on patrol and I have found this a great tool to improve relationships with campground hosts and provide community oriented policing to our parks, campgrounds and visitors.
As far as boating laws, they should be enforced the same as laws on land. Those specific to boating have "elements" set forth by Montana Statute and those officers manning a marine function need to be familiar with those statutes and work in conjunction with Search and Rescue and the officers of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to educate boaters and if to hold criminal offenders accountable for their actions.
Thank you and Steve for your time and service to this county. I hope that through effective management of the budget, Search and Rescue can become fully funded and assist in providing an increased presence on our waterways, trails and where ever people gather to enjoy the out doors.
Managing Sexual and Violent Offenders is a task that requires cooperative effort between County, State and Federal officers. As far as utilizing our county officers, I am aware that Lake County does have an officer who is diligent in his efforts to monitor these problem offenders, but it is a task that would be more effective with an increased team effort.  One area where I hope to increase the effectiveness of the monitoring of and holding these offenders accountable, is in holding regularly scheduled team meetings for sheriff office personnel.  This would provide an opportunity to focus better strategy and efficiency in checking on these and other offenders. Responsibilities ranging from the checking on sexual and violent offenders to better warrant service and other tasks should be able to be improved with focused team efforts that I hope will be increased with greater communication.
As part of that increased communication, I also welcome your insight as to how these and other issues may be more effectively managed. I believe that listening to you, your husband and other citizens who are knowledgeable in areas such as search and rescue will be a vital part of our solving these tasks for everyone's benefit.
I sincerely thank you for your thoughtful questions,
Steve Kendley 

Email #3

Steve:
 
When you become the next Sheriff of Lake County. What are your ideas to make Lake County, the schools, and highway 93 safer for the citizens? The way the SRO position is now not good. For mission, Arlee, and charlo schools Nate Lundien has to travel from Mission, to Arlee then to Charlo that is just not right, and that is wasting allot of unnecessary gas as well. Mission, Arlee, and Charlo need their own SRO officer. Different areas of lake county needs to have an officer patrolling that sector of highway 93. So what do you think of my ideas steve?
 
Lynn

Steve's reply:

HI Lynn,
   When I was a School Resource Officer (SRO), I had both Charlo and Arlee school districts as my base schools. Mission had their own SRO and that was a good set up. The next year the full time Mission SRO position was cut and the three districts were served by only one SRO. The Mission School District is busy enough for a full time SRO. I believe Mission should have a full time SRO. The Mill Levi was supposed to fund three SRO positions. Ronan school obtained a grant that I believe currently pays for their SRO. That means that right now it appears that the Sheriff's Office is only funding two SROs, a full time position at Polson and the SRO that serves Arlee, Charlo and Mission School Districts. We appear to be short one SRO position right now... I believe there should be another SRO and Mission would be my choice to station that SRO. I have a different approach to the SRO program than what is currently in place. When I started as an SRO, we had a sergeant that supervised a "team". We met every month. School administrators were invited to attend those meetings.  We had a team attitude about the whole program. The individual SRO had his/her base school that they functioned out of, but we also traveled to each others schools, became familiar with all the schools and filled in for each other as needed. It was "all for one and one for all". It was great to have other SROs show up randomly and be seen and present topics to students. It was also beneficial to have Highway Patrol Officers, Tribal Officers and City Officers show support by inviting them over to visit. I want a whole unified team attitude to show students our law enforcement community in a positive light, and utilize this law enforcement community to teach and inspire these important young citizens. I also want the SRO program to again have direct supervision, perhaps a sergeant SRO that will travel to all the districts, supervise, assist and coordinate this great community orientated policing tool (that means serving the community).
As for making Highway 93 safer, I am looking into really making a functional "satellite office" in the south end of Lake County. This will allow better efficiency by keeping deputies in areas they are needed. Sometimes it cannot be avoided that deputies need to be at the Courthouse, but if many of the tasks that currently cause deputies to be spending their shift time in Polson can be achieved at a office in Arlee or Mission (and in the Swan Valley), our efficiency will be increased. I want those deputy resources placed where they do the most good and an officer presence is best used in the field (on highway 93, and other roads/towns) rather than at the Courthouse. Incidentally, The SRO is another resource to respond to emergencies near their schools. I believe every SRO wishes to respond to emergencies where they are needed- school related or other events and this gives even better and more efficient coverage to those locations where SROs are stationed.
Thank you for you ideas and support!
Steve


“I do not want your vote for a change…. I want your vote to make a difference.”