Schmidt says he can do as sheriff

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the last in a series of profiles of the three candidates for King County sheriff in the non-partisan primary election.

Also see Tuesday's profile of Sheriff Sue Rahr and Wednesday's profile of Sheriff's Sgt. Jim Fuda.

When Greg Schmidt made police sergeant at the age of 28, his father presented him with a stepladder -- a nod to his climbing up the ranks of the Seattle Police Department.


		Gilbert W. Arias / P-I
	Seattle police Lt. Greg Schmidt says an assault charge made against him has helped him understand the power and authority that police have.

Smart and ambitious, he quickly made lieutenant and seemed headed for captain, perhaps higher, when he was arrested in 1998 after being accused of assaulting his then-wife in their Renton home.

A jury acquitted Schmidt of fourth-degree assault, but the incident may follow him in his run for King County sheriff.

As one of three candidates, Schmidt is competing to lead the agency and some of the same deputies he once sued, alleging "gender profiling" in connection with his arrest.

"I have no hidden agendas when I go in to be the sheriff," Schmidt said, adding that his arrest gives him a better understanding of being on the other side of the law.

The 42-year-old has been upfront about his arrest, posting an explanation on his Web site.

"I'm an open book. I've done nothing wrong," he said, during an interview in the Renton office of Families First of Washington, a non-profit organization he started to help families deal with violence. "I'll answer questions anyone has."

Schmidt says he, not his then-wife, was the victim, but he was charged because men are often assumed to be perpetrators. After his acquittal, he tried unsuccessfully to get then-Sheriff Dave Reichert and King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng to press charges against his ex-wife, Sherry Huff.

She could not be reached for comment. During the trial, she unexpectedly wrote a letter to the judge asking that her testimony not be used.

As sheriff, Schmidt said, he would review domestic violence policies and procedures to ensure that they're "gender-neutral," specifically that officers don't take size into consideration when they make arrests, as they did in his case.

Schmidt says he has a record of accomplishments during his 20 years with the Seattle Police Department -- the last decade working as a commander. He said that as head of the department's warrants unit, he helped reduce outstanding warrants from about 50,000 to 15,000.

Schmidt says that as the only candidate to live in unincorporated King County, the primary area of responsibility of the Sheriff's Office, he knows how the agency can best serve its citizens.

One of his priorities would be to put more deputies on the streets, with the goal of two deputies for every 1,000 residents. He'd do that by shifting resources, including getting cities served by the Sheriff's Office marine patrol and air support unit to pay their share of costs.

He'd also divide areas of coverage into smaller districts so that deputies have direct responsibility for their own area.

Schmidt plans to "lead by walking" and build trust by getting out into the community and letting deputies and citizens know he'll listen to their concerns.

Retired Sgt. Howard Monta describes Schmidt as "one of the most intelligent and professional persons" he's worked with. Monta was so impressed with Schmidt's expertise teaching a field training class that he wrote him a commendation.

Life-changing arrest

Schmidt says he doesn't want to make domestic violence a major issue in his campaign for sheriff, but the fact is that it has been part of his life in the past decade.

He speaks locally and nationally on the subject, offers support to victims of family violence, and has been something of a spokesman for male victims of domestic violence who are falsely accused.

Schmidt said he was the first to put together training videos and manuals on the topic for the Seattle Police Department. He also said he created the agency's specialized domestic violence unit in 1994.

Two of his superiors at the time recall it differently. Retired Chief Norm Stamper and Debbie Nelson, a retired assistant police chief, said Schmidt didn't create the unit.

"It was really Norm Stamper who directed that the unit be created. Greg Schmidt played no role in that," Nelson said, adding that she was the lieutenant of the unit and Schmidt worked under her direction. "He did not create the unit. He contributed to it, as did the detectives who worked there."

Stamper's recollection is similar to Nelson's. He says he put her in charge of the unit and that Schmidt contributed to it.

Schmidt says they've got it wrong. He said he worked with another lieutenant to put together policy and procedures, talked with detectives about it, and did work several months before Nelson officially joined the unit.

Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske declined to comment on Schmidt's candidacy.

Lisa Scott, a family law attorney who has worked with him on family violence issues, said the arrest changed his life but "he carries it with him in a good way, something that motivates him to do a good job and be a better police officer."

"The fact that I've been exposed and been treated unfairly only gives me a greater understanding of the authority and power we have and how we need to make sure we're doing the best that we can," Schmidt said.

It could have been career-ending, Scott said, but he didn't let that happen, looking instead to seek out leadership roles.

"At a sacrifice to my career, I stood up and did the right thing," Schmidt said. "The fact that some people don't like it, that I challenged the process, get over it. I have, and I was the one who was wronged."

Known for fairness

Born in Spokane, Schmidt was the fourth of six children. His mother, Karen, died when he was 5, and his father, Gary, had a long career as a firefighter.

In 1981, Schmidt made the final shot in a controversial high school basketball championship game. His baseline jumper as time expired gave Shadle Park a 66-65 victory over Mercer Island and the state Class 3A title.

Mercer Island players were celebrating midcourt when they were told they had lost. Fights erupted on the court and in the stands.

After getting an education degree at the University of Washington, he taught at Meridian Alternative High School in Shoreline for a year before entering the police academy.

His first years on the police force, he patrolled Rainier Valley and started a tutoring program for teens and recruited volunteers to staff it.

It was a time of heavy feuding between rival gangs, and Schmidt was the first police officer who put a human face on the department for kids who participated in late night recreational programs, said Reco Bembry.

"The kids remembered him because he was real, genuine," said Bembry, who directed the city programs in the early 1990s. "I respected him tremendously because he spent his own time and intellectual capital developing the tutoring program."

Bembry said Schmidt is the right man for sheriff, because the ability to trust an officer in uniform requires that "that person has ... a great deal of integrity and respect."

Those who worked under him said he was enthusiastic, saw the bottom line and treated them fairly and with respect.

"He listened to what you have to say," said Theresa Bartholomew, who retired from the Police Department in 2000. Even then, he would stop by and ask her if she needed anything.

Schmidt believes he is qualified to be police chief and should have made captain but was passed over. According to records, Schmidt scored the second-highest in the captain's exam and ranked among the top five candidates. But each time, another lieutenant was promoted above him. He appealed to the city's Public Safety Civil Service Commission, which sided with the department.

When he realized he couldn't climb higher because of "political winds," he turned to the elected office of sheriff.

"I think he wants to shake things up," said Herb Krohn, who worked under Schmidt until the warrants unit was closed and he was laid off.

PROFILE

GREG J. SCHMIDT

AGE: 42

PHONE: 206-772-0409

HOMETOWN: Renton

WEB: www.SchmidtforSheriff.com

OCCUPATION: Seattle police lieutenant

PAST POSITIONS: Former high school teacher; 20-year veteran with the Seattle Police Department, where he headed the warrants and narcotics units and now serves as field commander of the Southwest Precinct covering West Seattle and White Center.

PERSONAL: Born and raised in Spokane; married to Jana, with two daughters, Brianna and Keaton, and two sons, Eric and Taylor.

FUNDS RAISED: $10,000 as of Aug. 31

SAMPLE OF KEY CONTRIBUTORS: Greg Schmidt, $5,200. Neil Terry, $1,350. Harry Hamlin, $300. Andy Tooke, $200.

SAMPLE OF KEY ENDORSEMENTS: 32nd, 34th, 36th and 47th District Democrats, 11th District Republicans, International Union of Painters & Allied Trades

INDEPENDENT RATINGS: King County Municipal League: Very good; SEAMEC (gay rights): 4 of 5.

P-I reporter Phuong Cat Le can be reached at 206-448-8390 or phuongle@seattlepi.com.

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