Candidate announces he will challenge for sheriff's position

DAYTON -- Citing a need for more proactive and community-based law enforcement programs, Dayton resident Charles Duke has announced his candidacy for Lyon County sheriff.

Duke, a 29-year retired veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, was involved with the initial LAPD Neighborhood Watch program. He says without such programs it isn't possible to put together the plans necessary to reduce crime.

"I think involvement of police with the community could be vastly improved. In law enforcement we work for the people. The people are a vast resource as a means of preventing crime," he stated. "With my background I can identify a gang problem before it ever starts."

Noting the county does have a gang resistance program, he said the characteristics are not the same as a gang ID program. He said he would have an anti-graffiti program and that any defacement would be gone within 48 to 72 hours of its discovery.

Duke said he would make it a priority to put a stop to drug trafficking in the county.

"Narcotics are basically the root of 99 percent of all crime, from domestic violence to burglaries and robberies. If you make it a non-user friendly environment for drug dealers, they are not going to stay."

Born into a military family, the 55-year old Duke has lived throughout the country. He attended University High School in San Diego and graduated from Manlius Military School, a prep school for West Point located in New York state. He attended the University of Arizona on a football scholarship and went on to play linebacker for the British Columbia Lions for one year before an injury ended his football career.

He studied law enforcement public administration at the University of Arizona from 1966 to 1970. He earned a bachelor's degree in management and credit toward a master's degree at the University of Redlands.

He taught classes for the Nevada POST School and currently teaches use of force classes for California POST through Lassen College. He is a law enforcement self-defense expert.

His experience with the LAPD includes sergeant, metropolitan division, special weapons and tactics, officer-in-charge; officer-in-charge of physical fitness and self-defense unit; and officer-in-charge, special problems unit, Wilshire division.

Among several commendations and awards, in 1979 he received the Police Medal for bravery during a hostage rescue.

Duke has lived in Dayton for two years. The area's mushrooming growth led him to consider the run for Sheriff Sid Smith's position.

"I started looking around and seeing some things that aren't presently here that a growing community should have in place. If you wait 10 years to put it in place there will be some major problems. The people tell me they are not seeing the service they think they ought to have. I think my vast background of experience will enable me to do some of those things."

Of the upcoming campaign, Duke said, "I will present my ideas and programs to the people and they can look at what they have now and they can make the choice. I can tell you right now, I think the programs I would initiate would reduce crime and the narcotic problem in Lyon County, and community would have a working relationship at every level with the sheriff's department."

Married for 15 years to Jan, a United Airlines flight attendant, he has two sons. The oldest is a member of the Las Vegas Police Department.