POLSON — Dan Yonkin will take over as Lake County Undersheriff on Feb. 14, following the departure of Undersheriff Karey Reynolds, who resigned on Friday, Jan. 27.

Reynolds cited internal restructuring in the Lake County Sheriff’s Office as his reason for leaving the position, which he began a year ago amid ongoing controversy and allegations against members of the department, including a more recent claim of perjury against him.

“It’s no secret that the Sheriff’s Office is going through a difficult time,” he wrote in an open letter announcing his resignation to the citizens of Lake County. “Rumors of officer wrongdoing continue to be rehashed despite the fact that the election is long past and that, like Elvis, previous administrations have left the building.”

According to Reynolds, “spiteful mud-slinging” by an “unhappy minority” have hurt the reputations of the “outstanding men and women who protect and serve the people of Lake County.” And while he may be leaving, Reynolds said he will continue to support the current administration and hopes the citizens of Lake County will do the same.

Part of the restructuring, Reynolds said, will require an undersheriff with stronger skills and experience in human resources, and while the option of more training was discussed, ultimately, Reynolds decided that he was not comfortable acquiring those skills at the taxpayers’ expense.

“There is already someone within the office who possesses the necessary skills, and it is my belief that he will do an excellent job for the people of Lake County,” Reynolds wrote. “At this time, I am no longer the best man for the job.”

Yonkin started his law enforcement career in Lake County as a reserve deputy in 1999. He became a detective in 2004 and placed third under the Democratic ticket in the heated race for Lake County Sheriff in 2010.

“I am confident that Dan’s 12 years of experience in the law enforcement field will assist him in doing an excellent job as Lake County Undersheriff,” Sheriff Jay Doyle wrote in a press release Friday.

In an interview Monday, he added that while he will miss Reynolds as undersheriff, Doyle looks forward to working with Yonkin, and making positive changes in the department.

“I’ve worked with Dan for several years, first as detective, then undersheriff and sheriff,” said Doyle, who held the position of undersheriff himself for four years under Sheriff Lucky Larson. “He is a very intelligent and knowledgeable man. I think it will be a new chapter. We’re hoping to make a few changes that are going to affect the office in a positive way.”

The office has already advertised for a detective to fill Yonkin’s vacancy, and Doyle said he will be looking in-house initially. There are four detectives in the office, all with quite a few years experience under their belts.

You can read Reynolds’ complete resignation letter addressed to the people of Lake County below:

To the people of Lake County:

It has been my privilege to serve the people of Lake County as your Undersheriff. However I have given Sheriff Jay Doyle my letter of resignation, and he has accepted it.

My reason for leaving is simple: at this time, I am no longer the best man for the job. When I accepted the position of Lake County Undersheriff, I was assigned the traditional duties of an undersheriff — largely the day-to-day supervision of the law enforcement officers. With my many years of law enforcement experience, I have the requisite skills and qualifications, and I knew that I was the best man for the job.

However, over the past months, it has become increasingly clear to me that the office would be better served if the position of undersheriff were restructured. Part of this restructuring would require an undersheriff with much stronger skills and experience in human resources than I currently possess.

It wasn’t my intention to remodel my job into one I wasn’t suited for, but I can see that this would be best for the office, and ensuring that what needs to be done gets done is more important than ensuring that I’m the man doing it.

I’ve had many discussions with the sheriff, and we did discuss training options, but in the end, I have decided that I am not comfortable continuing in a job where I would have to acquire my skills at taxpayer expense. Part of my decision is based on the knowledge that there is already someone within the office who possesses the necessary skills.

Therefore, on Feb. 14, 2012, Lake County Sheriff’s Detective Dan Yonkin will take over as undersheriff in my stead, and it is my belief that he will do an excellent job for the people of Lake County.

It is no secret that the Sheriff’s Office is going through a difficult time. Rumors of officer wrongdoing continue to be rehashed despite the fact that the election is long past and that, like Elvis, previous administrations have left the building. I am greatly saddened to see that the reputations of the outstanding men and women who protect and serve the people of Lake County have been damaged through the spiteful mud-slinging of an unhappy minority who have allowed their personal agendas to ride roughshod over their loyalty and good sense.

I will continue to support the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Jay Doyle and Undersheriff Dan Yonkin. It is my hope that the citizens of Lake County will do the same.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve and protect. It has been an honor.

- Undersheriff Karey Reynolds