There’s a new sheriff in town

“Today was good because it really hit home that I was following in my father’s footsteps,” said Magill of the experience he called “humbling.”

“I used to spend hours in my dad’s patrol car so I sort of grew up in this field,” he said. “It means a lot, it really does, and I don’t take it lightly.”

He was appointed by the Wasco County Commission to replace Rick Eiesland, who retired April 30. Magill is running unopposed for sheriff in the November general election.

“When Lane walked into the house wearing his uniform for the first time, I said, ‘You look just like your dad,’” remembered his mother, Judy.

She was present at the oath of office ceremony in the county courthouse that drew friends, government leaders and law enforcement officials. Also in attendance was Lane’s wife, Sheri, and one of their two daughters, Kayla.

John believes Lane’s attention to detail and organizational skills — traits that date back to childhood — lie behind his success in the field he entered more than 14 years ago.

“Being very particular about everything he did made him a good helicopter pilot and a good cop,” said John. “I wondered when he got into law enforcement if this day would come and, when he became chief deputy, I thought, ‘He’s going to make it.’”

Judy added: “He’s worked hard all his life and he knew what to expect when he went into law enforcement.”

The first father and son team to serve Wasco County as sheriffs was Felix Sexton, the 24th sheriff from 1901-1910 and Lee Harold Sexton, the 26th sheriff from 1928 to 1953.

John Magill was the 31st sheriff and six months too old to claim the title of the youngest sheriff in Oregon. Lane has taken the 36th slot on the roster.

“I’m a pretty content person so I never really aspired to be sheriff,” Lane said in an interview after the oath had been administered by Judge John Olson, who presides over the Seventh Judicial District.

“I feel pretty privileged and honored. It means a lot that people put their faith and trust in me.”

For the last five years, Magill held the position of chief deputy and was trusted by Eiesland to set the $2 million annual budget for general operations, in addition to the $950,000 budget for the emergency dispatch center, $53,000 for marine patrols, $100,000 for emergency management activities and $850,000 for community corrections.

Magill also participated in strategic planning sessions, purchased vehicles and supervised three office staff, 18 patrol deputies, 11 dispatchers, five probation/patrol officers and four reserve deputies.

In addition, Magill has been responsible for 15-16 deputized posse members, the Wasco County work crew and coordination of search and rescue activities.

He has reviewed proposals for major events, helped oversee jail operations and served on the local domestic violence prevention council.

That experience enables Magill to take the reins of sheriff with firm knowledge about where the agency is headed, according to local officials.

Olson said Monday that he has known Magill as a “straight shooter and a man of his word.”

“I have long admired his integrity,” he said. “He always treats people with respect and dignity.”

Oregon State Police Lt. Pat Shortt and The Dalles Police Chief Jay Waterbury also said they had a good working relationship with Magill.

“I admire Lane for his moral compass because that is something a public official really needs,” said Shortt.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for him and I trust him — I know he will do the right thing and that’s the type of guy you need.”

Waterbury, who will retire in less than two months, said Magill is a natural fit for his new job.

“I’m looking forward to working with him for a short period of time but I’m looking forward to having him as sheriff as long as he wants to serve,” he said. “He’ll do a great job.”

Wasco County’s three commissioners were present for the May 9 ceremony.

“I just feel really, really lucky,” said Rod Runyon, chair of the county board. “We have a smooth transition from Sheriff Eiesland to the perfect individual to replace him — good guys.”

Magill said it is constitutionally mandated that each county in Oregon has a sheriff and he is honored to take his place in that lineage.

Since attending the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., three years ago, he has been mulling over how to make the sheriff’s office more proactive than reactive.

“A lot of the time we have to be reactive but I would like to see us spend more time on community policing, being there in proactive ways that benefit citizens,” said Magill. “I’m a solutions-based person and I would like us to get to the root of the problem that people are having and maybe keep them out of jail.”

For example, he wants deputies to carry resource information that can be provided to couples who are having continual problems that haven’t yet reached the level of abuse.

Often, he said neighbors make repeat calls to dispatchers about verbal disputes next door that they fear are escalating.

By providing the troubled family with a resource packet about counseling services, Magill said abuse might be circumvented.

“If you don’t ask the question, if you don’t reach out, then you’ll never know if that need could have been met,” he said.

For several years now, he has had deputies carry a packet to provide to veterans who are experiencing reintegration difficulties.

Magill said he now wants to expand that program to include other groups.

He believes that more work needs to be done to keep children from single-parent families away from criminal behavior.

He would like to find a way for churches, community members and civic organizations to help out in these situations.

However, he wants to make clear that his integrative approach to law enforcement doesn’t include a soft touch with criminals.

“Laws have to be followed and we are here to stop people from breaking them,” he said.

Magill was born and raised in Wamic, the third generation of the family to farm in the area.

He ran a septic tank service with six employees before being approached about going from reserve status into a full-time career as a deputy.

Before taking the job, Magill said he sat down with Sheri and their daughters to discuss the issues involved with a law enforcement job, such as the shift work and potential danger.

Once he knew that his family was supportive of the decision, Magill pinned on his badge for full-time work on Jan. 1, 2002.

Within seven years, he had risen through the ranks to become a sergeant and was appointed as chief deputy in March of 2011.