There’s a new candidate for Benton County sheriff.

Cpl. Rich Riffle, a 24-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, has announced he’ll be running a campaign as a write-in candidate.

His decision to run was prompted by the withdrawal last month of former Sgt. Jack Burright, which left only one candidate, undersheriff Diana Simpson.

Riffle, 47, the former president of the deputy sheriff’s association, said he’s been approached by many people about running and that he has lots of supporters within law enforcement. Although Simpson’s name will be the only one on the ballot, Riffle said he’s running to give people a choice for sheriff.

“This is not about candidates,” Riffle said. “This is about the voters.”

Riffle said he’s spoken to Burright, who was fired last week by current Sheriff Jim Swinyard. Burright hasn’t offered to donate any or all of the campaign contributions he had raised as a candidate for sheriff. Burright raised nearly $40,000, a record amount for the sheriff’s race that could certainly bolster a write-in campaign.

Swinyard is not seeking re-election.

Riffle said he hasn’t decided whether he would seek the endorsement of the deputy sheriff’s association.

He said he sees himself as the person who can repair department morale while working with the Benton County Board of Commissioners to ensure stable funding for the county’s law enforcement services.

The previously contested sheriff’s race was divisive and contributed to the low morale cited by many deputies, Riffle said. If elected, Riffle said, he would work to repair department morale, which he believes is the responsibility of management.

He’s concerned that the current sheriff’s administration, including Simpson and Swinyard, doesn’t trust its employees.

“I trust everybody in every division with my life. I should be able to trust them to do their job,” Riffle said.

Riffle said he offers a balance between the “good-old days,” when the sheriff’s office operated with few written policies, and the path set by the current administration, including a push for accreditation, consolidating functions with the Corvallis Police Department and implementing new polices and initiatives.

Riffle questions the need for accreditation, a certification of law enforcement practices by an independent agency. Having consistent policies is appropriate, he said.

“I have not been convinced that formal accreditation is the way to go,” Riffle said.

Like Burright and Simpson, Riffle calls for stable funding for law enforcement and adequate jail space.

Riffle has experience in patrol, investigations, the school resource deputy program, shift command, the multi-agency crash team, search and rescue, and reserve coordination. He has been a trainer at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.

Prior to becoming a corporal, Riffle was a reserve deputy with the sheriff’s office and a dispatcher with the Corvallis Police Department.

According to his resume, Riffle earned an associate’s degree in supervisory management from Linn-Benton Community College in 1994 and a bachelor’s degree in management from Linfield College in 2000. He received a certificate in business administration from Merritt-Davis Business College in Salem in 1978. He attended Oregon State University from 1980 to 1982.

He included his family, bike riding, gardening and counted cross-stitch among his interests.

He said no matter who wins the November election, he would continue to work with Simpson. He said there would be no “house cleaning” if he were elected.

“My ultimate goal, regardless of the outcome, is to work together,” Riffle said.

Rebecca Barrett covers public policy and education for the Gazette-Times. She can be reached at rebecca.barrett@lee.net or 758-9510.