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Welcome to my job
application for the Office of Sheriff for Jackson County. Over the next
several pages you will have the opportunity to review my background,
training, qualifications and supporters. I call this a job application
because that is exactly what this is. I am applying for a job that you,
as the voters and citizens of Jackson County, will have the final say in
who becomes the leader of Law Enforcement for Jackson County. I have
spent my adult life striving to bring about a better quality of life and
safer neighborhoods through effective law enforcement. This website will
provide you the necessary information you will need to make an informed
decision on Election Day. I want to assure you that I have the ability,
the experience, the energy and the leadership skills to lead the Jackson
County Sheriff’s Office into a new direction, providing better law
enforcement for the citizens of this county.
It is time for a change, not for the sake of change, but to bring about
a transformation to a department that has been plagued with years of
favoritism and political patronage. There is a current movement
throughout all of County Government calling for a greater accountability
and responsibility to the taxpayers of Jackson County. This is being
done specifically for the purpose of bringing back the confidence and
trust the public deserves to have in its County Government. For years
there has been a lack of leadership and cooperation between members of
the Sheriff’s department, both internally and externally. This has taken
a toll on not only the employees, but also on the citizens. I plan to
work very closely with County Executive Mike Sanders to make sure that
the Sheriff’s Office also rekindles that same level of public confidence
and support. This will not be easy with the financial concerns that are
currently facing the County Government. By working with the County
Executive, instead of independently of, by working with the County
Prosecutor, instead of independently of, by working with the Presiding
Judge and other Department leaders, instead of independently of,
everyone prospers through the shared knowledge, assets and experience. I
will start a new chapter in the long and illustrious history of the
Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. We need to build a department that
the residents of Jackson County can take pride in, can have faith in and
can count on. We need a department that through fiscal responsibility
employs the most qualified persons, has the best equipment, and the most
current training enabling us to provide the best law enforcement
services to ALL residents of the county. There are many good employees
at the Sheriff’s department. I am confident in their abilities and
believe under proper, supportive leadership they will prosper in their
commitments to the citizens.
I have been blessed over my 30+ years of full-time law enforcement
experience to have earned the respect of my co-workers and the citizen
groups that I have worked with. I have accomplished this by treating
everyone with respect, integrity and honesty. I have proven myself
repeatedly as being a team player with the capabilities of accomplishing
large tasks through cooperation and coordination. These efforts were
recognized by the Independence Junior Service League’s presentation of
the 2003 Susan Paxton Block Distinguished Public Service Award. Nina
Hertzog, Immediate Past President of the Junior Service League, made the
presentation, and stated “The award is intended to recognize an
individual who demonstrates excellence in conducting city business. Much
like Suzie exemplified during her service to our community.” Captain
Doug Thompson of the Independence Police Department’s Special Operations
Unit made the nomination and stated, “The past eighteen months have
brought about a quantum leap forward in positive community policing for
the Police Canine Unit. The recognition for this progress is due
directly to the enthusiastic community support generated by the
dedication of the Independence Police Officers, and the leadership and
devotion by Sergeant John Bullard.” This was not an award to one person,
but an award presented to an individual on behalf of a group of people
and a community that pulled together for a project that has had a
positive effect on the community.
From the west bottoms of Kansas City to the farmlands east of Levasy and
Sibley, from north Independence to Greenwood, Lone Jack, Lake Lotawana
on the south, ALL Jackson County residents want to be safe in our
neighborhoods, our schools, our place of business and our homes. This
will take a cooperative effort on the part of law enforcement and the
community. I propose to be the catalyst to rekindle that cooperative
spirit. There is a strong need to change the status quo, to bring back
the reputation, the positive attitudes and professional administration
to the Office of Sheriff. I will meet this challenge and lead the way to
make those positive changes through principled professional policies and
practices.
Like the Six points of
a Sheriff's badge I have six points that will best explain what I intend
to do. All of these points have a common ribbon that run through them
all.
That
common ribbon is called commitment:
It is time for a change and I will need your help and
support. My family and I would like to extend an invitation to you and
your family to help us make that change. We are adding team members
everyday that share the same ideals and morals in the effort to bring
back credibility and professionalism to the Jackson County Sheriff’s
Department. This team is motivated by a sincere desire to bring the
Sheriff’s Department back to where it should be—the leader in law
enforcement in Jackson County.
Remember to Vote for John Bullard on August 5,
2008
Sincerely,
John R. Bullard, Jr. |
