Two Left Standing In Sheriff's Primary Race
Daniel Novick-KFOX News Reporter

POSTED: 6:49 pm MDT March 31, 2008
UPDATED: 9:35 pm MDT March 31, 2008


EL PASO, Texas -- They were the two left standing after the primary election on March 4, Richard Wiles and Carlos Leon. The two former El Paso police chiefs differ on what they think are the big issues facing the sheriff's office.

"There's a lot of issues out there between the sheriff's department and the community," said Leon. "I don't know if it's perceived or real, but a lot of it is lack of communication."

"I'm a strong believer in education. I think it makes a better police officer, I think it makes a better police manager, and I will continue to stress that education when I become sheriff," said Wiles.

One of the top issues was the controversial alleged use of checkpoints for finding illegal immigrants.

"I think they need to be continued, but they have to be continued for the purpose they were designed, for the lawful purpose that they are allowed for, and that is just to look for driver's license and insurance," said Wiles.

"The sheriff's department is not going to participate in any program that specifically looks for illegal aliens. We are not going to be enforcing immigration laws, the sheriff's department is going to be enforcing Texas criminal law," said Leon.

Leon was the El Paso police chief from 1999 to 2003, then Wiles took over for him. They disagree on the quality of the police department when the transition happened.

"I left him a Cadillac. It was one of the best police departments in the country. He himself said in an interview with a newspaper that he took over a great department," said Leon.

"Clearly it wasn't a Cadillac. It was a good department because of the men and women who made it up, but there was some issues that were facing that department, I refer to it as a department in distress," said Wiles.

In the primary election, Wiles won with 45 percent of the vote, while Leon had nearly 20 percent of the vote.

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