Deputy's words were misunderstood

Editor,

In an article on methamphetamine use in the January issue of the Salishian, the Polson High School student newspaper, I was quoted as explaining that meth use is common among Native Americans, many of whom are susceptible to diabetes.

The discussion I had with the student/reporter about meth use included talking about how it was used — smoking, snorting or intravenously. The reporter was shocked at the idea of sticking a needle in her arm, but I explained to her that a lot of people grow up in households where a loved one must use a needle to help combat diabetes, for example.

Unfortunately, this conversation was taken out of context in relation to overall meth use, and I wanted to make it clear that simply because someone has diabetes obviously doesn't make them a meth user, or mean that a family member is more likely to try intravenous drug use. I was simply explaining to the reporter that due to diabetes and other factors, needle use might be more common than she thinks, even among law-abiding people.

As a Sheriff's deputy here in Lake County, I work hard everyday to serve everybody, and I have built a reputation for fighting racism whenever I'm confronted with it, and I hope the quote did not offend anyone. This quote was accidentally put into the wrong context within the larger article about meth use. The article was a good article and well written by the student, but I just wanted to take the time to clarify that one part of the article because it accidentally came across as offensive.

I hope everyone knows that both the Lake County Sheriff's office and I are committed to equal treatment of everyone. We work for everyone on the reservation. I know that our sheriff takes issues of racism very seriously. Sheriff Barron recently had one of our deputies trained as an instructor to teach how to avoid racial profiling, and 75 percent of our office has already received this training, and the entire staff will be fully trained within a month. We are continually working with Tribal Police Chief Craige Couture and Tribal law and order to build a positive, healthy working relationship, and together we combat issues of racism.

Lance Ewers

Lake County Sheriff's deputy