Published: July 03, 2008 04:37 pm      

People skills

WAURIKA — Being in law enforcement means spending much of your time around criminals, miscreants and the troubled souls of society.

Police officers go where most people would prefer not going and they deal daily with situations most people hope to avoid. There’s also an element of danger involved in law enforcement that makes it a high-risk career.

Still, interacting with people is a key reason Jessie Aden filed to become one of three candidates in the Democratic primary for Jefferson County Sheriff. People are the reason Aden gave up a job as a self-employed carpenter 17 years ago and applied for a job as a patrolman in the Ringling Police Department.

“I’ve always loved dealing with people, and when the (patrolman) opening came up, I thought I would try it,” said Aden, who spent two years in the patrolman position before becoming Ringling’s police chief in 1993.

“Being in law enforcement is a tough job and a lot of the work is not pleasant, you’ve got to love the job to do it. But a lot more good comes out of this job than bad, and a lot of that is because you’re dealing with people.”

Preparing to meet incumbent Sheriff Michael Bryant and Waurika’s Jim Simmons in the July 30 primary, Aden said he was finally acting out something he had considered doing in 2004. And he’s also motivated by the opportunity to reach and assist more people by expanding from a single community to the county level.

“I thought about running (for sheriff) in 2004, but I kind of chickened out,” Aden said.

“I went ahead and filed this time, because I think, with all of my training and background, I can do something good for the whole county.

“I think the sheriff’s job is an interesting position; you’re dealing with investigative work, drugs, traffic and criminal activities, but you also have to work with budgeting and other government agencies and county officials.”

Like all of the candidates for the position, which in the general election will include Republican Jerry Wallace and Independent Nathan Bardin, Aden is troubled by the current economic situation.

“Whoever wins (the election) is going to have to deal with the money situation. The price of everything is going up and that limits some of the things you can do. So you have to be able to spend the (county sheriff budget) wisely,” said Aden, who noted that he gained experiencing in budgeting back when there was still a municipal jail in Ringling and during the years he spent as a member of the Ringling town council.

Aden spent his early years in Arkansas.

The 57-year-old was born in Reno and graduated from Pocahontas High School in 1969. He has three grown children, two daughters and a son.

“I was raised on a farm, where we grew cotton and soybeans. So I know about hard work,” Aden said.” I’m glad I’m not a farmer anymore, but I think that’s one reason I get along with people so well.”