Longtime sheriff's deputy Ed Troyer vying for department top spot

Longtime Pierce County law enforcement officer Ed Troyer announced his candidacy for Pierce County sheriff, last week. Troyer declared his candidacy on his 35^th year anniversary working for the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.

He is running against Doug Richardson, the current chairman of the Pierce County Council.

In his announcement, May 5, Troyer said the sheriff's department has a “strong history of public trust, integrity, responsibility and transparency.” He said he wants to build on that foundation built by longtime Sheriff Paul Pastor, who is retiring this year after 19 years at the helm.

“I am running to ensure our department remains a leader in public safety,” he said in his announcement. “I look forward to working with our dedicated deputies and the community to keep you and your family safe. You know me. You trust me. I want to continue that relationship.”

According to his announcement, Troyer was born and raised in Tacoma and has lived in Pierce County his entire life. He applied and tested to be a Pierce County deputy at 22 years old. After police academy, he spent more than 10 years working on the streets, starting out on graveyard patrol in Key Peninsula, Lakewood and University Place. He has worked on the department's narcotics unit, worked undercover and with a federal gang task force.

For the past 20 years, he has been a detective and has served as spokesperson for the department for 19 of those years.

“I've always been open and truthful as spokesperson, and I'll continue to be open and truthful as your sheriff,” Troyer said in his announcement.

Troyer also serves as the executive director of Crime Stoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County. He frequently volunteers with Puyallup Food Bank, Special Olympics, World Vision and Charlie’s Dinosaur and has coached youth sports. He is also a Washington State Gambling Commissioner. He also is a member and instructor for the Foster Parents Association for Washington State. He and his wife, Wendy, have been foster parents and adopted three children from the foster system.