Delgadillo and Senior square off for Republican sheriff nomination

Both Delgadillo and Senior are critical of the current sheriff’s leadership. Both have been involved in local debates about masks in schools, and say they won’t enforce “unconstitutional” laws.

Welcome to the Laramie Reporter’s 2022 Elections newsletter. This newsletter seeks to introduce Albany County and Laramie residents to the candidates who have filed to run and to explore the issues surrounding what promises to be an interesting, impactful local election.

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Five candidates are seeking to helm the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, with four challengers taking on the current sheriff, Aaron Appelhans.

It’s one of the most crowded local races of 2022 and one of the most hotly contested.

The sheriff’s office has jurisdiction over the entire county. In addition to other duties, the office runs the Albany County Detention Center, which jails individuals arrested by sheriff’s deputies, and by Laramie Police Department and University of Wyoming Police officers. The sheriff’s office is also responsible for the county’s Search and Rescue operations and serves evictions on behalf of landlords.

The office has been heavily criticized in recent years and its reputation in the community plummeted throughout the final years of former sheriff Dave O’Malley’s tenure. O’Malley hired and then defended a law enforcement officer with a violent past. When that deputy, Derek Colling, killed a civilian in Laramie in 2018, it sparked a local movement for police accountability that ultimately ousted O’Malley.

Appelhans was appointed to replace O’Malley. He immediately fired a sergeant who has been accused of leading a “years-long racist tirade,” and Colling resigned just months after Appelhans took office.

Appelhans’ tenure has been seen by some — particularly Democrats and the activists who organized against Colling — as a positive force making long-needed changes to the office. Others, such as Republican candidates Rafael Delgadillo and Joel Senior, disagree, claiming the office is still mismanaged and asserting that a change in leadership is necessary.

Delgadillo was a law enforcement officer in California for more than three decades, serving in a variety of roles for the Oakland Police Department and Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. Joel Senior is a former LPD officer and current criminal investigator for the Wyoming Livestock Board.

Both Delgadillo and Senior are critical of the sheriff’s office. While Delgadillo said he seeks to restore the office’s reputation after decades of decline, Senior focused more on the current administration, saying there is a lack of leadership at the top. Delgadillo praised the office’s management of the detention center, while Senior cited it as one of the areas he would seek to improve, adding he was “concerned about the safety of both deputies and inmates.”

Delgadillo repeatedly stressed that his interest in running was to defend the “constitutional rights” of individuals in Albany County.

Both Senior and Delgadillo said they would refuse to enforce laws if they believed those laws infringed on the citizenry’s constitutional rights.

They have both been involved with the intense debates surrounding mask policy in Albany County School District No. 1. Delgadillo publicly supports Grace Smith, the Laramie High School student suspended after she repeatedly defied the district’s mask policy. Senior spoke against the same policy during a raucous school board meeting, claiming the school district’s actions were unconstitutional.

The two long-time Republicans answered a series of questions from the Laramie Reporter about their backgrounds, opinions and hopes for the 2022 election. The three candidates running for the Democratic sheriff nomination will be featured in a separate story tomorrow.

Laramie Reporter: What should voters know about your background, profession and interest in politics?

RafaeI Delgadillo: I served with both the Oakland Police Department and Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. I bring 30 years experience in patrol, investigations and community policing. Eight years were spent in jail operations. I handled assignments in initial intake, classification of inmates (properly identifying prisoners as to their criminal history, gang affiliation, etc.) and inmate management. As a disciplinary officer, I maintained jail security by administering discipline within the law and departmental policy. As a grievance officer, I investigated inmate complaints to protect their rights, and ensured the jail was operating within the law. I firmly believe in our Constitutional rights. Effective policing can be conducted which safeguards citizen rights yet also reduces crime.

Joel Senior: I was born and raised in Wyoming. I started with the Laramie Police Department in 2001, where I spent the majority of my career (10 years) assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division as a detective. In this capacity I handled major investigations, including crimes against children, arson, sexual assault, homicides and cold cases. I also conducted extensive background investigations on potential new hires. I am currently a State of Wyoming Criminal Investigator with the Wyoming Livestock Board, which focuses on agricultural crime. I am running for sheriff because I am greatly concerned about the lack of leadership and direction at the sheriff’s office. I am not extensively involved in politics and have no intentions of being. I view this position as crucial to our county. I hope to improve the leadership, training and police services offered by the sheriff’s office if elected. 

Reporter: What does the sheriff’s office do well?

Delgadillo: Jail administration, court security, civil evictions, Search and Rescue.

Senior: The Sheriff’s Office is currently very short staffed; however, the majority of the current deputies are very capable and involved in law enforcement for the right reasons. Their growth potential is currently limited by a lack of direction from administration.

Reporter: What should the sheriff’s office improve upon?

Delgadillo: Effective patrol tactics that enhance response and public safety. Investigations must be thorough to identify offenders and secure convictions. Yet until the sheriff’s office is fully staffed, and recent hires are trained and acquire experience, this will be difficult. Personnel should be cross-trained within the sheriff’s office and adjacent agencies to speed this process.

Senior: I am very concerned about the lack of training, failure to keep adequate manning or staffing levels, and rather inconsistent providing of opportunity for career development. I am also concerned about the safety of both deputies and inmates in the detention center. Frankly, the list of needed improvements is overwhelming. It will take a focused individual committed to changing the current downward spiral to effect needed changes.

Reporter: Should local law enforcement be overseen by a civilian oversight board or use-of-force review board?

Delgadillo: No. These boards require subpoena power to compel attendance and cooperation. They invariably want access to disciplinary records, which are protected under employment law. This issue arose because the former sheriff was isolated, did not respond to citizen inquiries, and there was not a robust response to citizen complaints of official misconduct. I will institute a responsive complaint process that will conduct unbiased, thorough investigations, with timely resolutions. A sheriff is accountable to the public. I will conduct public forums and form ad-hoc committees when needed to address specific issues.

Senior: No. With the size of our local agencies, a civilian oversight board does not make sense either financially or logistically. The cost of staffing a civilian board would be substantial and finding qualified civilians willing to sacrifice the necessary time required for reviews and ongoing training would be extremely difficult. All local agencies are already overseen by an elected board which should be aware of and taking action on any concerning matters. Local agencies should also be capable of conducting most use of force reviews internally when proper procedure is developed and adhered to. Any critical incidents should be investigated/reviewed by an outside agency.

Reporter: Would you make any changes to the way the sheriff’s office handles mental health calls?

Delgadillo: I will create an understanding that not every problem requires a "law enforcement solution." That there are other avenues to resolve problems to which we must avail ourselves. I will work with mental health and substance abuse advocates. Is there a way to avail ourselves of their services without endangering citizens, police and advocates? That must be explored, but first there must be ongoing training and exposure to their patients to acquaint personnel to the ongoing issues. 

Senior: Mental health calls are generally not dispatched as such. For example, you can respond to a domestic disturbance or even a loud party call and encounter someone in mental crisis. Therefore, the only way to prepare deputies for such interactions is to make sure that each of them is trained in recognizing and interacting with someone in these circumstances.

Reporter: What are the greatest challenges facing law enforcement today?

Delgadillo: Our society requires a safe environment for public life. We have seen chaos and crime when the police do not have the support of their communities and elected officials. Citizens must have unbiased law enforcement that is professional, responsive and respectful. But it must also be effective in lowering crime in a manner that retains public support. Yet every intervention brings the possibility of controversy. By creating a police culture of accountability, and an understanding that not every problem requires a ‘law enforcement solution,’ we can acquire public support to aid in reducing crime and social disorder.

Senior: Honestly, it is being vilified by the media. Any time a bad officer does something terrible the media attacks law enforcement as a whole when the reality is that most peace officers are just as, if not more, horrified and angered by the incident then the general public. No other profession receives this type of scrutiny. The majority of law enforcement officers are good, well-trained people who sacrifice an enormous amount of themselves in service of the communities they serve.

Reporter: Are there laws you would refuse to enforce?

Delgadillo: The only law I would not enforce is one that is unconstitutional. But I would consult both the county attorney and UW School of Law for guidance.

Senior: I would not enforce any law, regulation or mandate that restricts or violates a person’s constitutional rights.

Reporter: Do you own or manage rental property in Albany County?

Delgadillo: No.

Senior: I do not own any rental properties.

Reporter: When did you become a member of your political party? Why are you a member of that party?

Delgadillo: As a Republican, I believe in small government, rule of law, private enterprise and personal responsibility. In Wyoming, the sheriff is a partisan elected position so I am running as a Republican. As I believe the sheriff should be totally unbiased in the administration of law enforcement services, I will base my policies on sound policing principles. I will support and defend the Constitutional rights of citizens, and review and advocate for legislation that improves policing. I have been a Republican for decades.

Senior: I have been registered as a Republican since being old enough to vote. I feel that this party is largely representative of my views and beliefs.

Reporter: If elected, what would be your priorities in office?

Delgadillo: My highest priority is to restore public confidence in the sheriff's office by creating a well staffed, professional, and effectively responsive law enforcement agency. To restore public confidence, I will institute a "Code of Conduct." "How officers treat each other is how we will treat the public." Misconduct will be identified at its source and addressed. I will create a culture of accountability; one component is the "Duty to intervene.” Employees will build their careers in a non-politicized environment where everyone is judged by their performance. Assignments and promotions will be free of cronyism and favoritism.

Senior: I would first evaluate the agency to confirm that my current observations are correct. I would likely then address policy and procedure (or lack thereof), hiring standards, manning levels, recruitment and retention issues, advertising and hiring, training, narcotic detection equipment for the detention center and an employee wellness program.

Reporter: Finally, why should the residents of Albany County vote for you?

Delgadillo: Our Sheriff’s office has suffered years of controversy. I will restore and enhance the reputation of the sheriff’s office by decisive action to build public confidence. With my experience, innovative proposals, and an understanding of the current issues facing policing, I will bring the leadership required of a sheriff. I ask for your vote and ongoing support.

Senior: I believe that everyone in Albany County wants to have a professional, well trained Sheriff’s Office. I have the experience, relationships and commitment to accomplish these goals.