SEQUIM — Retired California police officer Soeren Poulsen will run a second time for Clallam County sheriff, saying he plans to formally announce Tuesday.
“It’s going to be about the future of the Sheriff’s Department,” said Poulsen, a Happy Valley resident and computer forensics expert.
After a contentious campaign against former Sheriff Joe Hawe in 2002, Poulsen said his approach would be “much different, much more peaceful” in his run against Sheriff Joe Martin, appointed to succeed Hawe last year.
“I respect Joe Martin,” said Poulsen, 60, on Sunday. “I think he’s a gentleman.”
Poulsen’s decision comes after he angrily vowed last September to never again run for sheriff after county commissioners chose Martin, then undersheriff, over him for sheriff.
The commissioners publicly interviewed Poulsen, Martin, then 69, and former California police chief Richard Sill, 52, for the job that pays about $64,000 a year plus benefits.
They were gleaned from 12 applicants.
California veteran
Poulsen, who has 25 years experience as a police officer with the Long Beach, Calif., department, said he began to reconsider his decision not to run again for sheriff last Christmas after receiving several calls of support.
“Then I started feeling really good about it,” said Poulsen, who retired in Long Beach as a police sergeant.
“When we (he and his wife, Connie) were celebrating our 20th anniversary, we had a chat about it and I got her blessings.”