Update (01-12-17 10:33 a.m.) — County Attorney Joel Benton announced Thursday morning Bob Sergi has pulled his name out of the running to be the next Jackson County Sheriff.
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Medford, Ore. – A community panel has recommended three candidates to fill the vacant position of Jackson County Sheriff.
The community panel interviewed six candidates on Monday — William Froehlich, who was in law enforcement in Utah; Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy Ian Lance, who’s been with the sheriff’s office for 14 years; JSCO Captain Dan Penland, who currently heads the Jackson County Corrections Bureau; former Jackson County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Bob Sergi, who ran against Corey Falls in 2014; JSCO Captain Nate Sickler, who is currently serving as interim sheriff; and former Sheriff Mike Winters.
The interview process lasted all day. All six candidates went in front of the community panel explaining why they are the best choice for Jackson County Sheriff.
Each candidate answered a dozen questions put together by the community panel. Topics ranged from the current health of the department to best practices for mental health.
They also addressed a lack of presence in rural areas of the county.
But the current status and future of the jail was something all candidates thought needed to be addressed.
Four people took part in the community panel–District Attorney Beth Heckert, former Police Chief Tim George, Amanda Sighn Bans of the Racial Equity Coalition, and Mark Orndoff of Health and Human Services.
Monday afternoon, the panel announced they have three recommendations for the next sheriff: Captain Dan Penland, Captain Nate Sickler and former Sheriff Mike Winters.
It’s now up to Jackson County Commissioners to select the next sheriff.
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