What does it really take to lead one of Washington State's largest sheriff's offices?

In this episode of On the Record™, I sit down with Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders for an unscripted, long-form conversation about leadership, accountability, public safety, and the difficult decisions that come with serving more than 300,000 residents.

During our conversation, Sheriff Sanders shares his perspective on:

• Immigration enforcement and working with federal agencies
• Flock cameras and balancing technology with privacy
• Officer accountability and misconduct
• Hiring decisions and lessons learned
• Mental health response and crisis intervention
• Community trust and transparency
• Social media and public communication
• Political independence and voting for President Trump
• Race, leadership, and lived experiences
• The legacy he hopes to leave as sheriff

The purpose of On the Record™ is simple:

To create space for thoughtful, long-form conversations that allow people to hear directly from the individuals serving their communities.. without sound bites, without headlines, and without someone else deciding what you should think.

Whether you agree with Sheriff Sanders or disagree with him, my hope is that you'll leave this conversation with a better understanding of how he approaches leadership and the responsibilities of serving Thurston County.

If you enjoy conversations like this, please subscribe, leave a comment, and let me know who you'd like to see interviewed next.