GRANT COUNTY — Grant County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Tom Jones announced he is running for election as sheriff.

He is running for the position because he said he believes the administration has lost touch with the community.

“We need a sheriff that leads from the front and is willing to work right beside his guys,” he said.

Jones said one of his goals is to hold the sheriff’s office more accountable. He said there are several complaints about the sheriff’s office from the citizens that do not get dealt with.

He said it is important to make the sheriff’s office consistent regarding how personnel respond to an incident and how it is dealt with.

Jones has about 18 years of experience in law enforcement with over half of it in leadership positions.

In 2003 Jones was promoted to his supervisory position at the sheriff’s office. With more than 2,000 hours of training, Jones was recognized as a Certified Emergency Vehicle Operations instructor for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. In 2006 he was selected to serve as the first vice-president of the Grant County Sheriff’s Deputies Association.

Jones also served in the U.S. Navy as a sniper and nuclear ordnance security patrol officer. He was honored for his service when he was deployed to Operation Desert Storm.

He said through his experience, he is qualified to lead the sheriff’s office.

“I will lead the sheriff’s office back to accredited status and will be innovative against crime,” he said. “This can be accomplished through a strong, clear and progressive plan and direction. It is time for the sheriff and his deputies to personally re-connect with the public and be held accountable in our ability to not only listen to but to also address the citizen’s needs.”