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David Myers (police officer)

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David Myers
OccupationFormer Commander in the San Diego Sheriff's Office
Years active1985-2018
Known forPolice work, Sheriff campaigns

David Myers is a former commander and 33-year veteran of the San Diego County Sheriff's Office. He ran in the 2018 primary election to become the San Diego County Sheriff against his boss and 9-year-incumbent, Bill Gore. He is the highest-ranking openly gay employee to have served in the department, and would have been the first openly gay San Diego County Sheriff if elected. He lost on June 5, 2018, with 43.4% of the vote. He retired from the department after his defeat. Following Gore's retirement, Myers announced he would run again for the Sheriff's position in 2022.[1]

Career

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Dave Myers worked for the San Diego Sheriff's Office from 1985 until his retirement in 2018.[2][3][4] He became a Commander in 2012 and is the highest ranking openly gay employee to have served in the department.[5]

Sheriff candidacy

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Dave Myers announced his run for San Diego County Sheriff in February 2017 against his boss and 9-year-incumbent, Bill Gore.[2][6] If elected, Myers would have been the first openly gay San Diego County Sheriff.[2][3][4] Myers claimed to have experienced several instances of retaliation at work due to his candidacy.[7][8][9][10][11]

During his run, Myers said the department does not respond well to community issues and criticized Gore's handling of important cases.[12][13] Myers stated there is a lack of diversity in the force, and believes there needs to be more LGBT, women and minorities serving in the San Diego Sheriff's Office.[6][4] Myers wanted to prohibit the shackling of pregnant inmates while they give birth.[14] He wanted the department to focus on rehabilitation instead of incarceration for misdemeanors and low level drug offenses.[5] Unlike Sheriff Gore, Myers has supported California's cannabis laws, citing the fact that 60% of San Diego residents voted to legalize cannabis in 2016.[15] Myers called for greater transparency in the Sheriff's office and wanted to deploy body cameras for the entire San Diego police department so that videos of important incidents could be made available to the public within 24 hours.[16][17]

Gore canceled a debate with Myers due to a scheduling conflict in March 2018.[18] Gore stated he was unable to debate Myers due to laws limiting his ability to talk about employee conduct.[19][20][21] In April 2018, Gore said during an interview that he used to be friends with Myers but now wished he could fire him.[22][23]

On June 5, 2018, Myers lost with 43.4% of the vote to Gore's 56.4%.[24]

Following Gore's retirement, Myers ran once again against then-undersheriff Kelly Martinez and John Hemmerling. His campaign emphasized concerns over deaths in jails, lack of transparency, and racial inequities in policing that required reform to address. Myers alleged that corruption and abuse of power were an issue among sheriff leadership.[25]

On June 7, 2022, Myers lost again with 19% of the vote, one point behind the Republican candidate.[26]

References

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  1. ^ Hernandez, Dave (2021-08-26). "Former sheriff's Cmdr. Dave Myers announces plans to run for sheriff". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  2. ^ a b c Lamb, John R. (2017-04-26). "Gunning for Sheriff Bill's job". San Diego CityBeat. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  3. ^ a b "The race for County sheriff is potentially significant". LGBT Weekly. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  4. ^ a b c "Candidate for Sheriff differs strongly from Gore on many issues | Escondido Times-Advocate". Times Advocate. 2017-11-22. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  5. ^ a b Board, The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial. "San Diego County Sheriff candidate Dave Myers: The Union-Tribune interview". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  6. ^ a b "Help Wanted: A 21st Century San Diego County Sheriff". San Diego Free Press. 2017-11-20. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  7. ^ Bowen, Andrew. "Sheriff Candidate Says He's Target Of Retaliation". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  8. ^ Stewart, Joshua. "Commander says he's been banished to 'broom closet' for daring to run for San Diego County sheriff". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  9. ^ McDonald, Jeff. "Sheriff candidate met with women accusing deputy of groping, got written up". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  10. ^ "San Diego County Government's Injustice Machine". OB Rag. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
  11. ^ Winkley, Lyndsay. "What we know about the internal affairs investigation into sheriff candidate Myers". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  12. ^ "Sheriff candidate Dave Myers pledges greater response to community issues -". McKinnon Broadcasting. 2018-02-24. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  13. ^ McDonald, Jeff. "Sheriff's candidate blasts Gore for series of department issues". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
  14. ^ Smolens, Michael. "It's one thing after another for Sheriff Gore". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  15. ^ "This Sheriff Candidate Is Running On A Pot-Friendly Platform · High Times". hightimes.com. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  16. ^ Cabrera, Andrew Bowen, Marissa. "Dave Myers Discusses His Run For San Diego County Sheriff". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2018-05-21.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Mecija, Melissa (2018-02-25). "SD Sheriff's commander calls for transparency". 10News. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  18. ^ Ong, Jermaine (2018-03-02). "Challenger brings cardboard cutout of San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore to debate". 10News. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
  19. ^ "Sheriff Gore Aims to Issue More Concealed Gun Permits in San Diego County - Times of San Diego". Times of San Diego. 2017-11-17. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  20. ^ "Keeping the Stupid in Politics, San Diego Style". San Diego Free Press. 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  21. ^ "HEAR OUR INTERVIEW: SHERIFF BILL GORE MAKES CASE FOR REELECTION". East County Magazine. 2018-05-06. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  22. ^ Stewart, Joshua. "Sheriff Gore said he considered firing his rival for office, but thought it would look bad". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  23. ^ "County Sheriff, District Attorney Races Heating Up". San Diego Free Press. 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  24. ^ "Complete San Diego County June 5 Primary Election Results - Times of San Diego". Times of San Diego. 2018-06-05. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  25. ^ Board, The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial (2022-05-08). "2022 election: Q&A with David Myers, candidate for San Diego County Sheriff". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  26. ^ "California Primary Election: Update on San Diego County Sheriff Race". NBC San Diego. 2022-06-09. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
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