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<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref">
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>Fellow
voters,</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana
size=4></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>Some of
you may remember the race for sheriff eight years ago.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The otherwise unemployable opponent of
Jeff Crouch grossly exaggerated and outright lied above his previous law
enforcement record.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some of these
lies were publicly exposed before the election due to serendipitous events.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>After the election as part of discovery
in a lawsuit Crouch's opponent filed against Chip Whitely, the opponent's law
enforcement personnel records were subpoenaed.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What a revelation!</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>I am
afraid something similar is happening in the present sheriff's race.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For about $40.00, a public records/other
records background check of a person can be made by anyone over the
internet.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Such a check was made on
sheriff candidate Wayne Rausch.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In
addition, further inquiries suggested by the public record findings including
other paid internet searches and further inquiries suggested by these search
results and other information were made and the off-the-record remarks of
certain out of state ex-colleagues solicited.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>Rausch
claims to have been employed by Cochise County, Arizona.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>An inquiry of Kelly Jones, an
administrative assistant in Cochise County, was made of Wayne Rausch's dates of
employment and titles.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana><FONT
size=4>The official response from Jones:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">"No record found on the above
individual as to being employed by Cochise County."</B></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>A
similar inquiry was made of Linda Semm, Human Resources, Mohave County,
Arizona.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>The
results:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana><FONT
size=4><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:date Year="1990" Day="3"
Month="11">11-03-90</st1:date><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN>to<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><st1:date
Year="1992" Day="26" Month="6">06-26-92</st1:date><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN>Deputy</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana><FONT
size=4><st1:date Year="1992" Day="27" Month="6">06-27-92</st1:date><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN>to<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><st1:date
Year="1994" Day="18" Month="2">02-18-94</st1:date><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN>Sergeant</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana><FONT
size=4><st1:date Year="1994" Day="19" Month="2">02-19-94</st1:date><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN>to<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><st1:date
Year="1994" Day="22" Month="3"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">03-22-94</B></st1:date><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Lieutenant<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></B>(32 days)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana><FONT
size=4><st1:date Year="1995" Day="8" Month="5"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">05-08-95</B></st1:date><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>to<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><st1:date Year="1997" Day="4"
Month="8">08-04-97</st1:date><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Deputy</B></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana><FONT
size=4>Why is there a more than 1 year unemployment gap in his Mohave SO
record?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>Why,
upon re-employment, was he demoted in rank to deputy and did not subsequently
advance?</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>Rausch
claims nearly 20 years of law enforcement experience.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Prior to coming to Latah County where he
served about 6 years, public records searches (above) show less than five years
experience – a total of about 11 years, not 20.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>Such
findings in public records not only belie Rausch's publicly verifiable claims,
but therefore cast grave doubt upon the truth of his other grandiose,
unabashedly-strutted-out claims.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>Besides
the results of off-the-record solicitations, adding to my skepticism about
Rausch's claims is the following question:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>If his
grandiose claims of qualifications and experience (they read like Superman's)
are true, then why was he only able to be employed by the Latah County SO – the
lowest paying large law enforcement agency on the Palouse?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>During his tenure there of about 6
years, there have been many openings on the Palouse for much higher paying law
enforcement positions for persons of Rausch's claimed law enforcement
experience.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Why did he not take
advantage of these opportunities?</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana
size=4>However, continuing in the same vein, this is the clincher:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>if Rausch has all these alleged, almost
superhuman qualifications and experience in law enforcement, why is currently
employed as a part-time driver for a local car dealership, and not employed in
any law enforcement position despite several Palouse area openings that occurred
since his resignation from the Latah SO?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>[Hint of one of many reasons:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Thorough background check.]</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>At the
beginning of the campaign, Rausch claimed that he was fired from the Latah
SO.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Another lie.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He resigned.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Having been called out on this untruth,
he has since changed his story.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>Rausch
claims there are turnover and morale problems at the Latah SO.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There may be some problems.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It has been my experience in northern
Idaho since 1980 that here is not a single county level law enforcement agency
without high turnover and morale problems.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>It is the nature of the beast:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>law enforcement work can be very depressing given some of the outrageous
and tragic things officers deal with, pay is not high and therefore, initial
application requirements are not high, and northern Idaho SOs are easy-to-enter
training grounds for those that want to get low-cost training and experience in
order to move to a higher paying position in law enforcement.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana
size=4>Further, if you are concerned about morale at the SO and hear Rausch
speak in an unguarded manner, you will most likely infer that he is a vengeful
morale killer, not a morale booster.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>There
are still officers in the Mohave County SO who remember Rausch.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you are concerned, with a little
effort you can find some who will speak candidly off-the-record about
Rausch.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>In the
light of the above information and a peek at Rausch's personality, it is easy to
understand why <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">he chickened out</B> of
the MCA debate.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Not only that, but
he offers a hint of one of the reasons he didn't come to the MCA forum in a <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Daily News</I> article:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He didn't want to face questions about
his mental health.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Whatever the
above information may show about his experience and character, cowardice and
lack of political independence are not nice properties in any law
enforcement person, let alone a sheriff wanna-be.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>In a
Thursday article of the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Lewiston Morning
Tribune</I> Rausch whines about information that Barbara Richardson Crouch, Jeff
Crouch's wife, has provided to various persons and organizations.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He accuses her of improperly getting the
information.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Another lie.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She got it the same way anyone else
could and some have: <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>by paying for
internet search services.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I know,
because I saw the same information myself (plus a lot more!).</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana><FONT
size=4><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Does Rausch </B>(and apparently
Joe Overstreet)<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> believe that because
Barbara is a candidate's spouse, she forfeits all her First Amendment
rights?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That she cannot, like any
good citizen, research political candidates and express her opinion?</B><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Wonderful! <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This never-valid, outdated chauvinistic
attitude of Rausch's shows another appalling side of his character and is
probably reason enough for voters to reject him.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>We have
lived Palouse now for over 14 years and have had experience with three different
sheriffs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>During this time we have
had several times both personal and organizational dealings with the Latah
SO.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Crouch took over a department 8
years ago with unprofessional leadership, response time/no response problems,
and dire, well-publicized personnel problems.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Now, the personnel have been upgraded,
desperately needed equipment has been added, response times have greatly
improved, rural/mountain patrols increased, and a great number of serious crimes
have been successfully solved, including two difficult murder cases.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Unlike previous sheriffs, no unsolved
murders have occurred on Crouch's watch.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana size=4>In my
opinion, Crouch has served the community very well.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I see no rational reason to vote
otherwise, especially for what most charitably can be described as a
pig-in-a-poke.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana
size=4></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR><FONT size=4>Wayne</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=4>Wayne A.
Fox<BR></FONT><A href="mailto:waf@moscow.com"><FONT
size=4>waf@moscow.com</FONT></A><BR><FONT size=4>PO Box 9421<BR>Moscow, ID
83843<BR>208 882-7975</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
size=4></FONT> </P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>