To the Editor:

During my tenure as Patrol Sergeant Shift Supervisor, I had the plea spent my entire life as a citizen of St. Lawrence County, with the exception of 8 years in the 1970's, when I was serving the country in the United States Navy, mostly overseas. I was granted a top secret security clearance with special access and I achieved the rank of Petty Officer 1st class before I left and came home. I worked for a bit as a firefighter at Fort Drum and while there decided I wanted to get into law enforcement. I attended North Country Community College in Saranac Lake and graduated with honors in two semesters.

During the course of my studies I did an internship with the St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Department, spending some time in each aspect of the department, but primarily with the road patrol. I subsequently took civil service exams to gain a position in the department. Sheriff Keith Knowlton hired me to work in the jail originally, the first position to come up.l hoped to have a short tenure in there, but ended up working in there for nearly two and a half years as there were no vacancies on the patrol during that time. I gained a position on the patrol in 1984 and approximately 8 years later I was promoted to Sergeant, a position I spent the rest of my career at, retiring in 2008 as the Senior Patrol Sergeant.

During my tenure as Patrol Sergeant, Shift Supervisor, I had the pleasure of having a young Deputy by the name of Sean O'Brien assigned to work for me. Sean was an excellent study, always clean cut, and eager to learn. He was never a shirker and was always respectful, even when being corrected. I would have been very happy as the supervisor to have a shift full of people like him.

I wish, at this time, to endorse Sean P. O'Brien for the elected position of Sheriff of St. Lawrence County. He has clearly demonstrated his in depth knowledge of all aspects of the Department he wishes to lead into the future, especially during the two debates we have been able to see and from which he gained the support of labor unions.

He has utilized his years as the Undersheriff to learn every phase of the operation. He has demonstrated the adaptability necessary to perform this highly complex operation to the very best of his ability. He has developed a working relationship with the politicians that control many aspects of the job with laws and regulations and also control the funding which enables the department to function at the very best levels. Sheriffs are accountable directly to the citizens that elected them, and to the constitution of their state and ultimately the United States Constitution. Sean O'Brien has repeatedly avowed this accountability, to include the 2nd amendment of the United States Constitution.

I know that Sean O'Brien respects the opinions of the people who have preceded him.

Sean P. O'Brien is not a perfect man. Who among us is, after all? I know he will strive to do his very best which is all anyone can ask. I fully support Sean P. O'Brien as our next Sheriff.

Michael O’Leary
Potsdam