Submitted by San Juan County Sheriff Ron Krebs

Over the last few days we have all witnessed the unfolding events in Minnesota, and around the country, spurred by a tragic death that occurred in Minneapolis involving the police and a black male who was in custody. The actions that resulted in the death of George Floyd are disturbing and saddening. When these events happen, it affects all of us in some way, shape or form. San Juan County may be an isolated set of islands, but we are not immune to the effects of what goes on in the rest of the country.

Last night as I watched the news footage of the riots in Minneapolis and in other parts of the country, it broke my heart. The relationship between law enforcement and the communities we serve are once again strained to the breaking point of riots in the streets. A relationship which law enforcement nationwide has been working diligently to repair.

The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is entrusted with keeping the peace and protecting the rights and safety of all citizens. The Sheriff’s Office has a culture of accountability. We will continue to hold ourselves, as well as the public, accountable in doing the right thing with dignity, compassion and respect. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of service with commitment to our communities and the people who live and visit here.

I could not be prouder of the quality and character of the men and women in the Sheriff’s Office and the job they do maintaining the close tight-knit relationship that we enjoy with you each and every day. We continue, day in and day out, to foster good relationships with our communities we work and live in and the partnering agencies we work with.

From all of the members of the Sheriff’s Office, our hearts go out to the victims and the citizens of Minneapolis and everyone affected by the tragic events that have and are currently taking place there. We pray that our nation can heal from this tragic event and get back to building stronger bonds as we move forward.