Troy Graunke Endorsement

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about some of my experiences working with Jon VanGesen. I transferred to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office in January 2002. Jon was a detective with the West Sound Narcotics Team (WestNET) at the time and I heard a lot of good things about WestNET and how Jon was a driving force in the unit. That’s saying a lot since every one of the detectives in the unit were at the top of their game and produced legendary narcotics investigations with a high degree of professionalism and integrity.

Fast forward a few years and Jon had returned to patrol and I had the opportunity to work directly with Jon on patrol. He was one of the cops that when he showed up, you didn’t have to worry about your back and everything would be handled with integrity and professionalism.

There was an incident I was involved in where he responded to back myself and two other deputies. We had responded to a shots fired call. Upon arrival, we were told a man had shot at a father and his 3 year old daughter because he felt she was playing in his yard without permission. As we approached the area the suspect was last seen in, he saw us and ran behind a small building, grabbed a rifle and opened fire on us. I was able to return fire as we made our way to cover. The suspect was able to keep us pinned down with gunfire. In addition, we were in poor radio signal area. It was difficult to transmit the info regarding the situation with our hand-held radios.

Jon was able to hear enough and immediately started coordinating a response, with multiple jurisdictions, to the scene and get people in a position to cover our exit from the hot zone. This was a dynamic and fluid situation which Jon handled with poise and an excellent sense of tactics to efficiently deploy people where they needed to be. Knowing he was handling things, I had the confidence things would work out.

Jon himself came under fire at one point in the incident. It ended the best way possible with everyone going home to their families and the bad guy going to jail after a lengthy standoff.

Jon promoted shortly after that incident. He supervised patrol before being assigned to the Office of Professional Standards (OPS). He had the reputation of being firm but fair and would back you if you were right and admonish you appropriately if you were wrong.

I solicited his advice when I wanted to become a WestNET detective. I appreciated his candor and insight on what I needed to do if I wanted to get in that unit. I was fortunate enough to become a detective in WestNET. Jon later became the Lieutenant, and then acting Chief of the detective division and I was able to work under him until my retirement. He leads by example and doesn’t expect you to do anything he would not do himself.

I have always known Jon to be a man of honor and integrity. He has always been active in his community and with his church.

He is the quintessential definition of a Public Servant. In my humble opinion, I believe Jon is without a doubt more than qualified to lead the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office as Sheriff.

I know he will do so with the utmost Integrity, Honor, and Professionalism.

Troy Graunke
Medico Legal Death Investigator
Kitsap County Medical Examiner’s Office
Detective KCSO, retired

The learn more about Jon’s experience check out:
www.vangesen4sheriff.com/my-experience.html

Full endorsement can be read at:
www.vangesen4sheriff.com/endorsements.html 

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Posted on 17 Apr 2024, 14:46 - Category: News