WATCH: The Post’s forum for Johnson County Sheriff

The two candidates in the closely watched contest for Johnson County Sheriff squared off Wednesday night in a forum hosted by the Johnson County Post, addressing a range of issues, including departmental morale, tackling violent crime and mental health services at the county jail.

The sheriff’s forum came on the final night of eight nights of forums the Post has hosted over the last month featuring candidates running for state and local offices in Johnson County.

Wednesday’s forum was held before a crowd of roughly 125 people at Central Resource Library in Overland Park.

Who is running?

The winner of this contest will succeed Sheriff Calvin Hayden, who lost the Republican primary earlier this summer.

• Doug Bedford (Republican), a former Undersheriff
• Byron Roberson (Democratic), current Prairie Village police chief

How to watch the Post’s forum

The Post livestreamed Wednesday’s event on our Facebook page, and a recording of the forum is embedded below.

Following the embedded video are the questions each candidate answered during the forum.

Timestamps are included in bold at the end of each question to help you navigate through the forum video if you’d like to jump around.

Questions and timestamps

1.  Opening statements [5:37]
2. Biggest public safety issue in Johnson County: We received this question before our primary forum, but it’s worth revisiting now that we have a general election contest with two candidates. This reader asks, “What is the number one public safety issue in Johnson County?” How would you address this issue if elected? [8:30]
3. ‘People v. property’ philosophy (from the audience): Describe your philosophy about the difference between protecting people and protecting property. [11:01]

   

4. Crime-fighting priorities (from the audience): How have you reduced the crime rate [in your previous roles] and how do you determine what crimes to focus budget dollars on? [13:37]
5. Budget and spending: One reader writes, “Being a good steward of taxpayer money is very important. According to public records, the budget for the sheriff’s office since 2017 (when current Sheriff Calvin Hayden took over) has increased by approximately $45 million.” If elected, do you anticipate maintaining that level of spending? What will you do to ensure residents that you are running the sheriff’s office in the most efficient manner possible, while still being effective in carrying out day-to-day operations? [16:27]

   

6. Staffing and recruitment: Let’s turn to staffing and recruitment. The sheriff’s office has dealt with the challenge of trying to fill dozens of vacant positions and also retain staff. In 2022, the county commission approved a budget increase for the Sheriff’s Office that boosted hourly pay for deputies in an attempt to attract more applicants. In that year, the staff turnover rate not counting retirements was 15% which was above the target of 11% set that year. To deal with these shortfalls in recent years, the sheriff’s office has had to pay current staff overtime. Several readers say they want to know what your plans are to adequately staff the sheriff’s department and pay sheriff’s office employees competitive salaries? [19:47]
7. Professional development (from the audience): What is your experience with providing professional development for your colleagues? And how is it important for creating futur leaders in the department? [22:25]
8. Inspiring and motivating staff (from the audience): What will you do to inspire sheriff’s office staff? What will you do in your first 90 days to influence and motivate staff? [25:01]

   

9. Diversity in the workforce (from the audience): How important is diversity in the sheriff’s office workforce? And how would you improve or encourage it? [27:22)
10. Vetting applicants (from the audience): What is your process for vetting applicants? Are there any “red flags” that would lead you to not hire someone to work for the sheriff’s office? [30:00]
11. Guns: A reader sent us this email, “Firearms are now the leading cause of death for children and teens in America. As the mother of a young daughter, this issue is very important to me as it is to many other parents in Johnson County. If elected sheriff, what policies will you enact or support within the confines of your office to help curb gun violence in our community and ensure the safety of all children?” [33:11]
12. Gun access and suicides: Gun access is a significant factor in suicides, as well. The sheriff of Kansas’ most populous county, if they choose, can be a voice for change when it comes to state laws regarding guns. The group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America has pressed the state legislature to do more to protect kids from accessing guns such as requiring them to be stored safely. What, if any, issues related to gun safety would you be willing to advocate for in Topeka? [36:40]

    

13. Investigating officer-involved shootings: We got several reader questions and comments regarding Johnson County’s process for investigating officer-involved shootings. Many of these readers expressed sentiments similar to this emailer, who told the Post that they perceive the process as “too cozy with police.” The Sheriff’s Office does not have a direct role in overseeing OICIIT [Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigation Team] investigations but as one of the county’s top law enforcement officials, your assessment of the process can matter in how investigations in the future are conducted.  Do you think OICIIT currently accomplishes its stated mission of conducting impartial and transparent investigations? Do you see the need for any changes or improvements to the process? [39:29]
14. Releasing body cam footage (from the audience): Current Kansas law considers officers’ body camera footage a criminal investigative record. Therefore, body camera footage is exempt from Kansas open records laws and does not have to be released to the public. Do you agree with state statute in this case? Where do you stand on the release of body cam footage? How and when, if at all, should it happen? [45:55]
15. Elections: The issue of election integrity was a hot topic during the primary but has appeared to lose salience with readers after Sheriff Calvin Hayden lost his primary contest. His years-long investigation into local election procedures was paused earlier this year and so far has yielded no criminal charges. Still, several readers said they wanted to know what you planned to do with this investigation if elected? Is there a chance you will restart it, continue to spend county resources on the matter? Or are you committed to ending it? [48:32]
16. Jail mental health services: Earlier this year, Sheriff Hayden ended a contract with the county mental health center to provide services for inmates at the county jail in favor of a private contractor. County mental health officials and some commissioners objected to the move, pointing to data that showed that inmates who had been able to access county mental health services in recent years had lower rates of recidivism. The sheriff cast the move as one that would save money. If elected, will you choose to continue using for-profit contractors for mental health services at the jail or will you return services to the county mental health center? [51:07]
17. Working with federal immigration officials (from the audience): During the presidential campaign, some candidates are talking about mass deportations. What is your position on how to manage and implement such a presidential mandate if you are sheriff? Are you legally required to follow such a mandate? And how will you work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement? [54:00]
18. Biggest difference (from the audience): Besides party affiliation, what is the biggest difference between you and your opponent, your platforms and campaigns? [56:43]
19. Closing statements [59:06]