LAKE COUNTY ? Jack L. Baxter is a true Californian. His ancestors arrived in the state during the Gold Rush. He retired to Lake County from the San Jose Police Department after 38 years, in 2004.
Baxter is running for Sheriff/Coroner of Lake County.
“I am prepared to go through the current duty manual and rewrite the whole thing,” he said. “There has to be standard policies and operating procedures in place. I”m prepared to go through the training manual and redo it too.”
The training used in San Jose during his career is the training model for the entire country, he said.
He says as Sheriff, he would critically review every division in the department, learn about each and see if there”s a way to improve it. He wants to improve safety in the county and some of his ideas include a sheriff”s reserve, community volunteers, mounted posse and volunteer air support that would assist search and rescue.
He would like to see the patrol force doubled, have a formal beat structure and a team-policing atmosphere in place.
“I welcome new innovations and ideas,” Baxter said. “There”s no reason for secrecy, I believe in an open-door policy. I believe the community has a right to know what their sheriff”s deputies are doing and why.”
Baxter is executive director of California Robbery Investigators Association.
His education includes a B.A. in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco, an A.A. in police science from Gavilan College in Gilroy, teachers training vocational education from U.S.C. Extension at San Jose City College, advanced teachers training, California Peace Officers Standards and Training, Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation, San Diego, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from San Jose Police Department Psychological Services Division, advanced training in PTSD International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing training from Jeffrey Mitchell Institute and an Advanced POST Certificate.
Baxter says he has strong leadership and management qualities. He thinks that there is a lack of a defined chain of command, accountability, responsibility and unity of command presently.
He says he values fairness and equality. He thinks as sheriff, he could give back to the community and give needed experience and skills to the department.
“I welcome anybody who is qualified to do the job; male, female, gay, any race. It doesn”t affect your ability to be a police officer,” he said.
Baxter says he”s seen a lot of changes in his career and overall the changes have been for the better.
“I have no use for nitpickers, backstabbers or kiss-asses,” he said.
Baxter is a father of three grown children and he has five grandchildren. His father is a military veteran, who at 91, still cares for himself. Following in his father”s footsteps, Baxter served in the U.S. Army. His oldest grandson serves in the Marines at Camp Pendleton and is currently awaiting deployment to Afghanistan.
Baxter has experience policing in narcotics, general crimes, officer-involved shooting team, homicide, sexual assault, robbery, special investigations, bank robbery, organized crime squad and he was coordinator of the “Shootist” Bank Robbery Task Force involving San Jose Police Department, Texas Rangers, FBI in San Diego, San Jose and Seattle.
His awards include San Jose Police Medal of Valor, San Jose Police Hazardous Duty Medal (awarded twice), San Jose Police, William Poelle Life Saving Medal, San Jose Police Outstanding Police Duty Award (awarded four times), California Attorney”s Award for Valor, Santa Clara County Homicide Investigators Association, Homicide Investigator of the Year, California Robbery Investigators Association, Jack Giroud “Mr. Robbery” Award, along with letters of commendation from law enforcement and the community.
He belongs to the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, University of San Francisco Alumni Association, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, United States Team Roping Championship, American Cowboys Team Roping Association, National Senior Pro Rodeo Association, Single Action Shooting Society, E Clampus Vitus and Lake County Farm Bureau.
His teaching experience includes San Jose State University, POST Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation, faculty advisor and class coordinator, ICI robbery program coordinator, robbery investigators course senior instructor/program coordinator and basic investigators training program instructor.
Baxter used to visit Lake County to see his uncle and he fell in love with the area.
“I loved the country. What a beautiful place. When I retired I sold my small home in San Jose to buy a nice place with a little land and a terrific view of the lake,” he said.
To learn more about candidate Jack Baxter, e-mail baxter4sheriff@aol.com.
Mandy Feder can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 32.
