Sergeant touts his front-line experience

Flathead County Sheriff's Sgt. Lance Norman says he believes his experience on the front line of law enforcement helps him understand what the community needs and gives him an edge over his opponents.

"We need a fresh approach to our office," he said. "We need a fresh approach to leadership and to the changes that are going on in our community.

"I have that fresh-line approach. I currently know what the community needs are," the sergeant said.

Norman, a deputy with the Flathead County Sheriff's Office for more than 17 years, is in a three-way Republican race for sheriff.

He faces Sheriff Mike Meehan and former Undersheriff Chuck Curry in the June 8 primary election. Since there are no other candidates, the primary winner goes into the general election unopposed.

A Whitefish native and third-generation law officer, Norman listed improving morale at the Sheriff's Office, cutting costs, increasing education and changing the medical marijuana law as his goals, if elected.

"We need a strong leader in our office and in Flathead County," he said.

"Right now, our morale is at an all-time low, and we need a strong leader to bring that morale back up at our office."

He said more deputies are taking sick and vacation leave than ever before, retiring early and moving to other agencies, which Norman said was "unheard of" in the past 20 years at the office.

He said the sheriff sets the tone for the entire office and added that "the primary reason for the problems inside the Sheriff's Office is a lack of quality leadership at the top levels." When problems within the department arise, poor decisions are made and unfair practices are implemented, Norman maintained.

Other changes he'd like to see include bringing more value to the tax dollar. He said he would put fiscal responsibility "first and foremost" so people can see where their money is going and how it is being spent by the agency.

"We're going to have a much more open Sheriff's Office if I'm elected June 8th," Norman promised.

To cut costs, he said he would explore alternate methods of housing offenders, such as putting certain offenders in ankle bracelets instead of a cell, which would enable an offender to stay at home while still being supervised "to some extent." That would put housing and food costs back on the offender, not the taxpayer.

Other ways for the agency to cut costs include increasing fuel efficiency on patrol cars by installing lower drag-light bars and utilizing push bars to lessen damage caused by collisions with deer.

"I'm willing to listen to their [taxpayer] needs and wants and we'll make those adjustments if we can possibly do it," he said.

That would be through what Norman calls a citizen's advisory committee, a forum that would enable the public a voice in its law-enforcement agency.

"Right now, we look at things through law-enforcement eyes," he said. "We want to know what the public wants to see the Sheriff's Office do."

Some public needs he believes need to be implemented include bringing officers back to the schools.

"We need to start getting a positive image of law enforcement out there and have that safety and security in our schools," he said.

Improving relations with the general public is crucial, he added.

He also thinks crime prevention education programs aimed at everything from how to recreate more safely to being more savvy online, to avoiding scams and identity theft, would be beneficial.

"Unfortunately, we're all getting preyed upon to various levels, especially the elderly," he said.

Classes would be available to the public, free of charge. He said fewer victims means fewer offenders preying on them, adding that there might be fewer crimes if offenders had fewer opportunity to commit them.

Medical marijuana is also on his agenda.

Norman wants to amend the state medical marijuana law to only allow the active chemical in marijuana, THC, to be distributed in pill form. Such pills already are available through pharmacies, which would regulate the distribution and allow the drug to be taxed.

As sheriff, Norman said having the backing of his office would give him more authority when dealing with the state Legislature.

But first, he said, internal problems must be tackled.

His plans for improving morale at the Sheriff's Office include enhancing communication internally between officers and the administration, fostering transparency within the administration and to the public, and getting rid of the "us and them mentality that we currently have at our office.

"We need a sheriff that is willing to sit at the same side as our association when it comes time for bargaining and be willing to bargain with them to the county commissioners for the needs of the office. That hasn't happened during the past administration; the sheriff has been on the other side of the table," Norman said.

He plans to reduce the "top heavy" administration by two positions, which along with "an entire new administration in place," will help create a positive thinking, progressive administration that is there to work for the office and the community.

He said the Sheriff's Office needs a strong leader "willing to stand up and fight for his officers and his non-sworn personnel and everyone that works in that office," adding that integrity and accountability also are essential in earning trust.

"I also have some youth on my side. I have the tenacity to do the job and I am the right leader for the position," Norman said.

He doesn't think his lack of administrative experience will hurt his chances.

"Jim Dupont went from being a patrol officer, non-ranking, to sheriff, and look how he turned out," Norman said. "I realize I'm not Jim Dupont, but you can go from being a non-administrator to an administrator overnight and be successful."

Reporter Melissa Weaver may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at mweaver@dailyinterlake.com