TACOMA, Wash. — On his 35th anniversary as a law enforcement officer, Ed Troyer declared his desire to be Pierce County’s top cop.
Troyer, 57, sheriff’s spokesman for 19 years, put together an exploratory committee in March but officially declared his candidacy for sheriff Tuesday.
“You know me. You trust me. I want to continue that relationship,” Troyer said.
He will be running against Doug Richardson, chairman of the Pierce County Council.
Filing week begins Monday.
One another candidate, Darin Harris, has expressed interest in the position.
Sheriff Paul Pastor, Pierce County’s longest serving sheriff, will retire at the end of the year after 19 years at the helm of the 800-member department.
He was set to leave in April but opted to remain “for the foreseeable future” to keep continuity within the department due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Pastor has said he will not throw his support behind any candidate.
Troyer started his career with the Sheriff’s Department when he was 22, working graveyard patrol in Lakewood, University Place and the Key Peninsula.
In addition to patrol, he served on the narcotics unit and worked with a federal gang task force.
Within a year of being promoted to detective, Troyer was named sheriff’s spokesman and remains in that post.
“I’m not really interested in politics, but to be sheriff, I have to run,” Troyer said. “This is all I want to do. I want to keep the Sheriff’s Department strong, I want to keep the office non-political and I want to keep our community safe.”
Troyer said he will continue to build on the foundation set by Pastor, holding criminals accountable and protecting citizens.
“I’ve always been open and truthful as spokesperson, and I’ll continue to be open and truthful as sheriff,” Troyer said.
He cited his longtime involvement with the community as further evidence of his qualifications.
Troyer has served as executive director of CrimeStoppers for 17 years, been a commissioner with Washington State Gambling Commission for five years and coordinated the Pierce County Toys for Tots programs for 12 years.
He also works as an instructor for the Foster Parents Association of Washington State, an organization close to his heart since he and his wife adopted three children from the foster system.
Richardson retired from the Army with the rank of brigadier general after 32 years of service and later served as a Lakewood City Council member for the town’s first 17 years.
He departed Lakewood as mayor in 2012 for the Pierce County Council’s District 6 seat.
He represents Lakewood, DuPont, Steilacoom, Parkland, Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Anderson and Ketron islands.
Richardson’s third and final term expires next year.
Although he has no law enforcement experience, he has said his experience with budgets and leading large organizations put him in a good position to take over the Sheriff’s Department.
Richardson is also chair of the South Sound 911 board of directors, part of Pierce County’s public safety committee and on the law and justice council.
Click here to read the story on thenewstribune.com.
© 2020 Cox Media Group
