Ed Troyer
Sheriff of Pierce County
(Washington (state), U.S.)
Assumed office
January 2021
Preceded byPaul Pastor

Ed Troyer is an American law enforcement officer who is the sheriff of Pierce County in the U.S. state of Washington.

Career

Troyer has served with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department since 1985. His previous assignments include patrol deputy in Lakewood, University Place, and the Peninsula Detachment. He held many special assignments as part of the Community Support Team, Crime Stoppers, Burglary Reduction Team, and the FBI Gang Task Force, where he received special commissions from the DEA and FBI.

Troyer is especially well known for the time spent as a prominent public information officer, a position he held from 1999 to 2020. He often appeared on local newscasts to comment on investigations, notably regarding Gary Ridgway.[1]

Troyer has been decorated with a Medal of Merit five times in his career in addition to a Lifesaving Award, two Patrol Impact Awards, and an Excellence in Traffic Safety Award from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

At the time of his election, Troyer was the executive director at Crime Stoppers, a member of the TAPCO Credit Union Board of Directors, and a commissioner with the Washington State Gambling Commission.[2]

On July 15, 2021, Troyer signed an open letter penned by the Washington State Sheriff's Association affirming his support for the Second Amendment.[3]

2021 incident and charges

On January 27, 2021, at 2 A.M., Troyer confronted a newspaper deliveryman named Sedrick Altheimer outside his Tacoma home after becoming suspicious of his vehicle driving through the neighborhood and entering and exiting driveways.

During the subsequent exchange, Troyer stated the man threatened to kill him. Altheimer claimed Troyer followed him in an unmarked SUV, called him a "porch pirate", and did not identify himself as a law enforcement officer. Troyer called the police using a number reserved for officers to be able to contact dispatchers directly.[4] The call was perceived as indicating an officer in distress, which precipitated a massive police response—the call going out to some 19 law enforcement agencies involving 42 units. Tacoma Police indicated Troyer retracted his claims regarding Altheimer's threats.[5][6] Altheimer was briefly detained, and released.

Pierce County prosecutors declined to press charges, but on October 19, 2021, after receiving a referral from Governor Jay Inslee, Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed charges against Troyer, one count of false reporting and one count of making a false or misleading statement to a public servant.[7] During the trial, Troyer testified that the media had characterized him as a racist, and the state as a liar.

On December 14, 2022, a jury found Troyer not guilty of both charges.[8]

Personal life

Troyer resides with his wife in Tacoma. They have served as foster parents for numerous children.

On April 25, 2012, his 19-year-old adopted son Zachary was charged with third-degree rape of a child and third-degree child molestation for alleged sexual conduct with a 14-year-old girl.[9] He later pled guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge and was sentenced to electronic monitoring and community service.[10]

Electoral history

2020 Pierce County Sheriff Election

Independent Ed Troyer 269,543 66.14
Independent Cyndie Fajardo 137,990 33.86
Total votes 407,533 100.00

[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Life with Gary Ridgway: Police reveal wife's story". Seattle PI. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "MEET YOUR SHERIFF Sheriff Ed Troyer". Pierce County. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "Kitsap's interim sheriff didn't sign letter supporting Second Amendment, but said he would have". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "Criminal charges filed against Pierce County sheriff | Washington State". www.atg.wa.gov. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "'I almost lost my life. For a lie,' newspaper carrier testifies about confrontation with Sheriff Troyer". The Seattle Times. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  6. ↑ "Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer found not guilty on both counts". KNKX Public Radio. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "Criminal charges filed against Pierce County sheriff | Washington State". www.atg.wa.gov. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  8. ↑ "Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer found not guilty of false reporting". The Seattle Times. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  9. ↑ staff, Seattle Times (26 April 2012). "Foster son of Pierce County sheriff's spokesman charged with rape". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  10. ↑ "Son of Pierce Co. sheriff's spokesman pleads guilty to sexual assault". The Seattle Times. 19 October 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "Ed Troyer wins race for Pierce County Sheriff". king5.com. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
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