(STEUBEN COUNTY) - Steuben County sheriff candidate Chris Emerick is using a personal message from someone involved in one of his past investigations to spotlight what he says is the lasting impact of respectful policing and professional conduct.
In a Facebook post this week, Emerick said several people have reached out during the campaign to reflect on difficult moments they shared with him during his years as a detective.
The latest message came from a person who said a drug-related search warrant executed roughly 16 years ago became a turning point in her life.
According to the message, the woman said the search at a mobile home in Steuben County was traumatic at the time, but ultimately pushed her to leave the situation with her son, return to school at Trine University, earn a bachelor's degree and build a career in mental health and social services.
She wrote that she now sees that night as the intervention that changed the course of both her life and her son's.
Emerick said he shared the story, with identifying details removed, because it reinforces his belief that people should be treated with dignity even in the most difficult law enforcement situations.
The post comes as sheriff candidates continue highlighting support from both community leaders and individual voters as the campaign moves forward.