MOSES LAKE — Leadership, accountability and trust within the Grant County Sheriff's Office took center stage Sept. 10 as Sheriff Joey Kriete and challenger Darrik Gregg faced off in a debate hosted by the Grant County Republican Party.

The debate at the Ephrata Recreation Center focused on several of the defining issues of the campaign, including a recent vote of no confidence by the deputy sheriffs’ association, Gregg's ongoing lawsuit against Grant County, immigration enforcement and management of the sheriff's office.

While both candidates highlighted decades of law enforcement experience and pledged to keep residents safe, they offered different views of the sheriff's office's current direction and whether significant changes are needed.

Leadership decisions

Asked to describe the most difficult leadership decision they have made, both candidates pointed to personnel matters but framed their experiences differently.

Kriete said the hardest decision of his tenure involved removing a member of his leadership team earlier this year. Kriete reassigned Josh Sainsbury from chief deputy of emergency communications to sergeant in January, following Sainsbury’s announcement he would run for sheriff. Sainsbury was eliminated in the August primary. Kriete previously said he reassigned Sainsbury because he was not sure they could work together effectively as they campaigned against one another. 

"I will say the most difficult decision I had to make so far was back in January," Kriete said. "It's difficult to make a decision that has to do (with), and quite frankly contradicts, a relationship you have with somebody over 40 years."

Kriete described the decision as "personal" and "heartbreaking" but said leaders sometimes must make unpopular decisions.

"As sheriff, I have to make decisions that, first and foremost, are in the best interest of the community," he said.

Gregg discussed the events that led to his departure from the sheriff's office in 2021.

"I think in my almost 24-year law enforcement career, which has all been in Grant County, the most difficult decision that I've ever made is all due to this campaign," Gregg said.

Gregg said he challenged decisions being made by sheriff's office leadership because he believed they conflicted with the oath he took as a deputy.

"It's about the integrity that you say you're going to have when you swear your oath and raise your right hand," Gregg said. "I will always stay true to that."

Gregg said his departure led him to the Moses Lake Police Department, where he now serves as a patrol sergeant.

"I'm up here for a bigger reason than myself," Gregg said. "I'm up here ... to take care of this community and create something that is bigger and better than myself."

Immigration enforcement

Questions regarding immigration enforcement revealed areas of agreement between the candidates. The 2019 Keep Washington Working Act prohibits law enforcement officers from asking about a person’s immigration status or assisting federal agencies in enforcing immigration law unless the person has also committed a crime. Being in the United States without authorization is a civil offense but not a crime, according to www.congress.gov. 

Kriete explained the limitations placed on local agencies.

"When somebody is in our country illegally before they've been deported, that is a civil violation," Kriete said. "When that person has then been deported and re-enters our country, now it becomes a criminal matter that we can assist our federal law enforcement partners on."

Kriete said the sheriff's office works cooperatively with federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, when criminal investigations are involved.

"If it's a criminal investigation, yes, we could and there is no reason we wouldn't assist," Kriete said.

Gregg said he would continue working with agencies such as ICE, the FBI and the DEA when criminal activity is involved.

"I will always support any law enforcement agency that comes into Grant County with the mission of taking violent offenders into custody," Gregg said.

Vote of no confidence

One of the most contentious exchanges came when moderator Victor Lombardi asked Kriete about a recent vote of no confidence by the Grant County Sheriff's Office Deputy Sheriffs’ Association.

According to Lombardi and records reviewed by the Columbia Basin Herald, 31 members voted no confidence, six voted confidence and 10 abstained.

Kriete said he met with representatives from the association after learning of the vote and requested more information.

"They gave various examples of concerns that they had," Kriete said. "Most of them were management rights issues. A lot of them were collective bargaining issues that I can't discuss."

Kriete said the information he received lacked sufficient detail to investigate specific complaints.

"I gave them a deadline. I need to have more information and context on these concerns so I can determine what needs to be done on these issues," he said. "I still haven't gotten any further information on that because nobody wanted to provide any more information."

Gregg argued the vote reflected broader concerns inside the sheriff's office. He said he had spoken with current members of the sheriff's office during the campaign.

"The vote of no confidence is bigger than just saying there are bargaining issues," Gregg said. "They're voicing their concerns that they want new leadership." 

Lawsuit 

A question about Gregg's active lawsuit against Grant County generated another exchange.

Lombardi cited claims that the county has spent roughly $400,000 defending the litigation and asked Gregg whether he would continue pursuing the case if elected sheriff.

Gregg said the lawsuit, which is now before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, is about accountability rather than financial compensation and stems from his efforts to challenge conduct he believed was wrong within the sheriff's office. Asked directly whether he would continue pursuing the case if elected sheriff, Gregg said he would.

"No, I'm not going to step away from that," he said. "I started it, and I'm going to finish it. It's not about me. It's about making sure this never happens to anybody else again."

Gregg also encouraged residents to review statements from both campaigns regarding the lawsuit and reach out with questions.

Kriete did not address the merits of the lawsuit directly during the debate but disputed Gregg's characterization of leadership decisions within the sheriff's office.

"The thing I want to respond to is, I didn't remove somebody for me," Kriete said. "It had nothing to do with me. It had to do with what was best for the community."

Gregg and Kriete will face each other in the Nov. 3 general election. 

To watch the full debate visit bit.ly/910GOPDebate.