To Whom It May Concern, I would like my friends, colleagues, and people I don’t even know or have met yet to consider their support for my friend and former allied law enforcement partner, Chris Sutton, for Sheriff of Cecil County. I’m sure if you read his biography closely, study his post law enforcement career, and consider what the county needs today from the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, you will understand why I encourage you to vote and I support Chris Sutton to be the next Sheriff. Chris served 22 honorable years before his retirement and we both had the pleasure to support each other and serve the citizens when I worked in Cecil County as a Maryland State Trooper early in my career. That was my first duty assignment out of the state police academy and my last duty station as the Regional Major for the state police before my retirement in 2006, so Chris and I go back a long way. He was always as solid as they came. This is where I shout out that we were both destined for our respective K-9 units during our careers, an incredible honor and rigid selection process to be one of the best. Cecil County is a unique place. Deputies and troopers work together with the local police agencies to keep the county safe. When you have an elected Sheriff that understands the dynamics of working with several allied local and state agencies, the law enforcement operations run very smoothly, and the citizens get the best bang for their buck. It’s when the elected Sheriff doesn’t want to cooperate with the other agencies that policing becomes territorial and contentious. Nobody wins in that scenario. Chris Sutton is a man of his word backed up by his many years of commendable service and his track record of success even after his retirement. I would think that honesty, integrity, and the desire to truly serve (not create an empire) would ring loudly for the voters of the county. This is an elected position that could truly affect every citizen at one point or another. You, as voters, have a chance to elect who leads your law enforcement efforts; something that doesn’t happen when you have appointed chiefs. A Sheriff is beholden to the people, and only the people, who elect him/her to serve. Chris Sutton will be that model of law enforcement and cooperation Cecil County voters deserve. After Chris retired, I called on him to help me support a very critical corporate startup that needed a security manager to get it off the ground. He was the right man for the job. He was mindful of the corporate environment while understanding the importance of the security function. That kind of forward vision and adaptability is what is needed in today’s law enforcement world. New ideas, fresh perspective, and desire to serve. It's easy to endorse a candidate like Chris Sutton. Even though I do not live in Cecil County, I still work, play, and frequently visit so feeling safe is still something I think about everywhere I go. Electing the right people affects many citizens even when they don’t live in the county, and the position of Sheriff can create a very positive image for the safety and security of residents and guests alike. I am positive your vote for Chris Sutton will not be one that you regret. I encourage you to go see him at events, take a minute to speak to him, get to know him a little bit, and ask him why he wants this job. You will be impressed. Your next Sheriff should be Chris Sutton. He will not let you down. He’s one of us. Sincerely, Major (ret) Nick Paros Maryland State Police