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Byron Trapp Is New Lane County Sheriff

Sheriff Tom Turner (left) will be leaving his post to be Florence Chief of Police. Chief Deputy Byron Trapp (right) will serve as sheriff starting May 1st.
Rachael McDonald
/
Sheriff Tom Turner (left) will be leaving his post to be Florence Chief of Police. Chief Deputy Byron Trapp (right) will serve as sheriff starting May 1st.

The Lane County Board of Commissioners today [Wednesday] chose Byron Trapp to be the next Sheriff. The Chief Deputy will replace Tom Turner when he leaves to be Florence Chief of Police at the end of the month.

Sheriff Tom Turner (left) will be leaving his post to be Florence Chief of Police. Chief Deputy Byron Trapp (right) will serve as sheriff starting May 1st.
Credit Rachael McDonald
/
Sheriff Tom Turner (left) will be leaving his post to be Florence Chief of Police. Chief Deputy Byron Trapp (right) will serve as sheriff starting May 1st.

The Board held an open recruitment for the sheriff's position. They interviewed 2 candidates. Board Chair Jay Bozievich says Trapp, as chief deputy, has shown he can do the job.

 

Bozievich: "Because he has such a great amount of experience in the sheriff's office. 27 years. And he has the support of all the partners that are required to have a public safety system as a whole."

Current Sheriff Tom Turner, District Attorney Alex Gardner and the Eugene Chief of Police were among those who voiced support for soon to be sheriff Trapp:

Trapp: "I can't be more appreciative of the vote of confidence from the board and the support I've received in the local community, certainly the sheriff's office. I recognize I have huge shoes to fill."

Coincidentally the other candidate Maurice Saunders once served as Florence Chief of Police. That's the job Tom Turner will take on May 1st. Byron Trapp will serve as Lane County Sheriff until May 2016 when the post is up for election. He plans to run.

 

Copyright 2015 KLCC

Rachael McDonald is News Director at KLCC. She’s been with the station for more than 10 years. Previously, she established the Richland, Washington bureau for the Northwest News Network. She also worked as News Director at KAZU in Monterey, California. Rachael has won numerous awards for her reporting.