Capt. Jim Raymond prepares to take over as Franklin County sheriff

For the first time in almost three decades, there will be a new sheriff in town in Franklin County.

Pasco police Capt. Jim Raymond received almost 52 percent of the votes in last week’s election, officially ending the 28-year run of Sheriff Richard Lathim.

Raymond leads by 516 votes with just 88 ballots left to be tallied.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean Lathim is out of a job.

Because of civil service rules, Lathim, Undersheriff Kevin Carle and other top administrators could possibly continue to work for the sheriff’s office. However, they would have to return to their previous ranks.

Raymond told the Herald that he will wait until after the election is certified Nov. 25 before talking with them about their futures with the department. Lathim and Carle could not be reached Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Raymond already has picked his undersheriff.

Dan McCary, a detective sergeant with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, will replace Carle, who has been undersheriff for more than 25 years.

McCary unsuccessfully challenged Lathim for the sheriff’s seat in 2002, running on a similar platform as Raymond’s recent campaign.

Raymond and McCary have said publicly that they want the sheriff’s office to work better with other local law enforcement agencies, create a citizens-advisory board and better train deputies.

“It’s an opportunity to take an open look at the organization and evaluate if it is being managed correctly,” Raymond said. “You got to have the mindset to see what’s good, what’s bad and reorganize if possible.”

McCary, who lives in north Franklin County, has been with the sheriff’s office in Benton County since the late ’80s and oversees a patrol squad.

Raymond — who described McCary as his “polar opposite” — has worked with him on different multijurisdictional task forces such as the Tri-City Metro Drug Task Force and the Special Investigative Unit.

“He is a sound, solid guy,” Raymond said.

Raymond also said he is talking with someone else about coming in to run the newly remodeled Franklin County jail. But he said he is not ready to name the person.

Whoever oversees the jail needs to be transparent and have a fresh perspective on ways to improve policies, Raymond said. He wants to change the perception that inmates are mistreated.

A lawsuit was filed before the election by a Seattle-based legal aid organization claiming jail staff mistreat mentally ill and other inmates. Lawyers from Columbia Legal Services have called the environment at the jail one of the worst they’ve seen in the state.

The jail was recently renovated as part of a more than $19 million project paid for by taxpayers.

“The key is to be open, transparent and hold staff accountable,” Raymond said.

He said the campaign was a learning experience, and it gave him the chance to get out in the community and renew old relationships. The 32-year police department veteran is now ready to leave the only agency he has ever worked for and take on a new challenge.

Raymond will take a pay cut to move to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff is scheduled to make about $101,350 in 2015, according to the county budget.

City records show Raymond was paid $103,436 in 2013.

Raymond said it will be tough to leave the police department, though he plans to work closely with Police Chief Bob Metzger on training and other areas.

“It’s truly sad to walk away from this organization,” he said. “It’s been my home for a long time.”

There also will be some minor reorganization within the police department, Metzger said.

The department will go back to having three captains, meaning two officers will be promoted to join Capt. Ken Roske and to replace Raymond.

Metzger is still sorting out the logistics of the transition and who will be promoted.

This story was originally published November 12, 2014 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Capt. Jim Raymond prepares to take over as Franklin County sheriff ."