Letters of Support

Letter of Support - Steve Isom
Dear Editor and Eagle County Voters:

As a 30 year resident of Eagle County, I would like to express my support for James Van Beek in his campaign for Eagle County Sheriff.
I have known James for many years and have found him to be a man of honesty, integrity and accountability, all very necessary characteristics in serving the citizens of Eagle County and its diverse population.
James has spent the last few years helping war torn countries build a community policing network where none previously existed. James’ experiences have taught him tolerance, acceptance and resourcefulness. I am encouraged that his knowledge and experience building these systems will help to repair and strengthen our own.
James has committed to working with and for the people of Eagle County by increasing cooperation between the various community organizations, engaging the community in problem solving, and enhancing the satisfaction of those working in the Sheriff’s office. I believe he will work to do all this and more.
Please consider this when you vote on November 2.
Thank you,

Steve Isom


Letter of Support from AJ Johnson
Dear Eagle County Citizens,

This letter is written in appreciation and support of James Van Beek, the Independent Candidate for Eagle County Sheriff. I worked with James as his supervisor and as a team member at the Sheriff’s Office for approximately 12 years. During that time, I found James to be a morally just and compassionate person, someone who would take the time to listen and help others.

James has always been enthusiastic and committed to enhancing operational processes, working diligently with minimal supervision and could be trusted to carry out assignments and organizational values as a road officer, field training officer and as an investigator.

James has the knowledge, experience and integrity to move the Sheriff’s Office forward. He will give a hundred percent to see that an established mission is accomplished within the parameters of providing safety, customer service and our Constitution. Over the years that I have been acquainted with James, he has grown in many directions, demonstrating self-respect, competence, commitment, integrity and leadership.

There are numerous styles of management, and James is continually working within the achievement-thinking style that leads to outstanding overall personal performance and success. I believe that James will be a good Sheriff to the citizens of Eagle County, someone you can trust and have confidence in.


Sincerely,

AJ Johnson
Eagle County Sheriff (1983-2003)


Letter of Support - Lesia Valentine

I am honored to have an opportunity to stand up for a friend, James Van Beek, a man who would like to be, and should be, the next Sheriff of Eagle County.

I met James during the course of an investigation he was working on in Eagle County, while I was living there (a 20-year resident). After 9/11, I moved away, and James went to Afghanistan. Nine years have passed. All this time, he’s been there, so that his wife (Carrie, Operations Manager for "Can Do Multiple Sclerosis"/ formerly known as the Heuga Center) and two young sons--and your wife, and your sons and your daughters--would be safe at home in Eagle County, and in the world at large. He did it because that's where he comes from. It's what his family does: the right thing.

James impressed me the first time I met him, and since then, my respect for him has only grown. Over the years, I've been a fortunate recipient of photos he's shared of the violence and conflict in Afghanistan. It's a tad more dangerous than Eagle County, if you don't count a December with no snow. He's the very first person I would turn to in a crisis.

I'm the first to admit that I find myself judging other people a dozen times a day: by the clothes they wear, by the company they keep, and not what they say, but by what they do (and okay, shoes). I put a very high value on character and integrity. I've seen James respond to a variety of situations (always with knowledge and class), and heard his modest opinions on many subjects. I've found him to be open-minded, level-headed, down-to-earth, and very often funny. His seeming lack of ego is a rare find.

I believe James to be honest and incorruptible, and a wholly decent human being. He doesn't just wish for a better world, he walks the walk. He takes positive steps toward the goal. He and his family have sacrificed for that goal. Every day. Imagine.

James always leaves things better and safer where he has been. His next stop should be as Sheriff of Eagle County.

Lesia Valentine


Letter of Support - June Deane

Dear Eagle County Residents,

I have known James Van Beek for twenty years and I have known his parents for even longer than that. James comes from a family who believed in service to their community and their church. His dad was on the board of the Gypsum Volunteer Fire District and was a deacon in his church. His parents were in the foster parent program caring for various children in the system for many years. It is this legacy of service and caring that James would bring to the Sheriff’s Office.

James was a deputy and then an investigator for the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office for many years. He worked in the all areas of the county including the Basalt/El Jebel area. James always knew a great many of the citizens in his patrol area and could probably tell you who their spouse and children were. There were times when people would call the Sheriff’s Office and specifically ask for James to be sent out to take care of their problem.

For the last few years James has been involved with training police forces in world trouble spots like Kosovo and Afghanistan. This work has given him a thorough knowledge of training processes and procedures.

While away from this country James has stayed involved with his family. He converses daily with his wife and sons and is involved in the boys’ sports activities and school studies. He knows more details of his sons’ activities than some parents who are not a half a world away. James plans wonderful surprises for his wife for anniversaries and birthdays and makes sure she knows how important she is to him.

In light of full disclosure I must mention that James Van Beek is my son-in-law and a very good one. He treats me kindly and teases me unmercifully. I tell him that I am his “favorite” (albeit only) mother-in-law.

James would bring to the position of Eagle County Sheriff years of law enforcement experience, a compassion for people, a sense of duty and service, and training and multi-tasking skills. We all will have a choice to make come Nov. 2, 2010 I would hope you too will make the right choice and support James Van Beek for Eagle County Sheriff.

Sincerely,
June Deane


Letter of Support - Ian Allison
Dear Voters of Eagle County

I am writing this letter to you to offer my support for James Van Beek as he seeks to be elected Sheriff of Eagle County. I would like to point out from the offset that I have known James since December 2003 when we both worked for the United Nations in Kosovo, and we remain friends to this day. There is no bias on my part, had I not believed James could do a good job I would not be endorsing him. Without his prior knowledge I placed a group page on Facebook supporting his campaign.

I am a retired former British Police Officer, with 16 1/2 years policing service.
In December 2003 I was seconded by my force, The Ministry of Defence Police, to serve a two year mission in Kosovo working for the United Nations. The United Nations implemented the use of International Police Officers after the short war between Serbia and Kosovo to help bring stability back for the local population. International Officers from 45 different nations were in mission, making it an ethnical, cultural and religious hotspot.

James and I were both working at Kamenica Police Station where James was Chief of Operations. Kamenica city itself is three villages merged into one with a mixed population of Albanians (Majority), Serbians and Romas (Minority), whilst all three lived in the same city there was always an underlying tension. James and I shared accommodations in a nearby Serbian village.

As Chief of Operations James ran the daily operations of the station managing over 150 local police officers and 30+ International Police Officers. As Chief of Ops, James was the liaison officer with the military assigned to our area, United Nations representatives, the local Albanian and Serbian Village leaders, and he was well respected within each of these groups.

James was instrumental in raising the profile of Community Policing within the different villages, which, when you take into consideration the deep mistrust between the different ethnic divides was no easy feat.

In March 2004 James´s leadership qualities really came to the forefront when the
Albanian population decided to riot as a show of displeasure towards the United
Nations slow place in improving their lives. The station commander proved to be lacking in leadership qualities, failing to react in any manner and James stepped into the breach.

This rioting lasted for three days, at one point James and I found ourselves alone amongst a large group of angry males who were intent on destroying the home of the local Serbian leader, James singled out an influential Albanian male whom he knew and urged him to step in to calm the situation, he then organised a small group of junior American soldiers and together we persuaded the crowd to fall back.

James then entered the home of the local Serbian leader and offered her and her family safe refuge at our home whilst the situation remained as it was, she initially refused to leave. James eventually persuaded her that it would diffuse the situation and she agreed to go. At one point during the rioting the local police officer’s morale was diminishing (this followed a talk from the Station Commander) James was once again able to reverse this trend by leading from the front working side by sides with all the police officers, offering encouragement to each of them, and giving them his full support. During these three days he worked continuously keeping everyone focused and being instrumental in diffusing the rioting and bringing peace once more to our assigned area.

So why should James be your next Sheriff?

Allow me to list just some of his traits:

(1) Great Leadership Qualities
(2) Former Military Experience
(3) Several Years American Law Enforcement Experience
(4) Several Years International Law Enforcement Experience (Kosovo and
Afghanistan)
(5) Ability to liaise with different Ethnic Groups effectively and without judgment
(6) Worked effectively and efficiently with Law Enforcement Officers from many different ethnic, cultural and religious divides.
(6) Negotiating Skills
(7) Great Motivator

My only regret as I follow the campaign is that I am unable to cast my vote, for me there would only be one candidate, James Van Beek. To those of you who have no interest in the election or those who are undecided, please, please don´t neglect your democratic right, make sure you cast your vote November 2nd

Good Luck James
Ian R Allison
Memmingen, Bavaria
Germany


Letter of Support - Ken Wilson

This letter is in support of James Van Beek for Eagle County Sheriff. I met James in 1989. I was on his interview board for the Eagle County Sheriff’s office. We were quite impressed with James’s deep convictions and integrity. James is honest, trustworthy, and very fair with everyone he deals with. Mr. Van Beek’s experience in law enforcement, including dealing with multi-national forces in Kosovo and Afghanistan, will be extremely valuable in dealing with the population diversity in the county. In his more than 20 years of experience in law enforcement Mr. Van Beek has been a deputy for the ECSO, a field training officer, and an investigator. In his recent law enforcement role, he has been a supervisor and training officer of multi-national police forces. James Van Beek is a permanent resident of Eagle County, is raising his family here, and has always participated in community affairs in our county. His extensive experiences in law enforcement, his honesty and integrity, his commitment to Eagle County and its residents and seasonal guests, and his forward-looking ideas and attitudes, make him the ideal candidate to become Sheriff of Eagle County.

Ken Wilson, Eagle CO
ECSO Captain/Undersheriff, Ret.


Letter of Support - Lisa Isom

I am writing on behalf of James van Beek who will be running for Eagle County Sheriff this fall. To be fair, I should note that James is my brother-in-law. However, before I would agree to vote for James or even collect names to get him on the ballot, I told him I needed to be convinced – just like any other Eagle County voter. I’ve had an opportunity to hear his views on everything from immigration to marijuana dispensaries and I think he has a very fair and balanced impression of the issues affecting our county. Most importantly, he has stated that his personal views don’t matter when it comes to following county/state/federal laws. The fact that he is running as an independent candidate speaks volumes to me as well. I don’t think that a person elected to enforce our county’s laws should be put in office based on party affiliation.
James has a remarkable and unique track record in law enforcement. I especially appreciate his work with the UN in Kosovo and Afghanistan. He has witnessed and participated in various forms of police training all over the world and I think he is in a position to bring “best practices” back to our valley. James speaks several languages fluently and has a love for other cultures that I think will serve him well in our world-renown resort community.
James has also shown dedication to working with youth locally through the Eagle County Sheriff’s Department when he worked there as an officer and an investigator. I think as our community grows and diversifies, it becomes more and more important to have someone in office who will create public programs that educate kids and keep them out of trouble. James has spoken to this point directly and understands how hard it can be to fund programs for youth when budgets are being cut everywhere. However, he knows there are grants available to fund new programs and he plans to get to work with his staff on a grant-writing mission once elected.
There are so many reasons to check out James van Beek before you vote in November. Regardless of your party affiliation, go to vanbeek4sheriff.blogspot.com and see what he has to offer our community. See you at the ballot box this fall!
Lisa Isom


Letter of Support - Calvin Tonks

I am a British Police Officer (one of those police officers who wear those funny shaped helmets) and have been for the last twenty years. I am currently a supervisor for a counter terrorist unit in the UK. During my career I have covered various duties and responsibilities ranging from general policing duties, public order, community policing, investigations, royalty protection, and overseas policing for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (British Government).

I have known James Van Beek since we met in Kosovo whilst policing for the United Nations. I met James on my first day at Kamenica Station in 2001 where James was a shift supervisor. They say first impressions count and James certainly made a first impression; he is a tall but gentle giant not just physically but also socially. James was talking with two Kosovo Police Officers through a language assistant but could see the language assistant was not really getting his point across to the officers. James then suddenly started speaking German fluently to one of the officers who had spent some time in Germany. To say I was impressed is an understatement. James excels in effective and positive communication, communicating with credibility and confidence providing an intellectual atmosphere conducive to the stimulation and interchange of ideas, encouraging open communication to achieve mutual understanding to all present. He demonstrated this on a number of occasions whilst I worked with him. During the eighteen months I worked with James he always kept himself well informed of pertinent legislation, changing government regulations, business, political and social issues affecting us in Kosovo and if I did not know something he was my go to guy and an invaluable source of knowledge.

I left Kosovo to work in Baghdad Iraq just after it was liberated with the Coalition Powers Authority. During this time I worked as part of an intelligence cell with the US Military and assisted with the setting up of the new Iraq Police Service. I wrote policy and training plans for them. During this time I stayed in contact with James, via e-mail still requesting advice from him which greatly assisted me in achieving mission.

I returned to Kosovo in 2004 where again I met up with James who was now the Station Commander of Kamenica Police station responsible for one of the most ethnically mixed municipalities with a population of just over 64,000 people, 170 Kosovo Police Officers, 20 international Police Officers (including me) and 14 language assistants.

James displayed the confidence needed to face the toughest leadership challenges demonstrating strong, dynamic and charismatic leadership qualities. James was responsible for all the police issues affecting this community, dealing with murders, rapes, riots and other public disorder such as protests. James continuously demonstrated his knowledge of when to restrain and when to exercise power, promoting harmony and teamwork, by showing appreciation for contributions made by others. James responds promptly to changes and opportunities, I have seen him dealing with a horrific incident in the morning then participating in games with children in the community and giving one hundred percent attention and focus to whatever he is doing at that time. One of James greatest assets is his ability to empower employees with the authority and resources to achieve results recognizing the importance of working through subordinates while maintaining control.

I have always found James to be consistent, dependable and accurate in carrying out responsibilities to a successful conclusion displaying industriousness, conscientiousness and diligence in performing tasks. His verbal commitments are consistent with his actions and he can be counted on to achieve results using proven methods and techniques generating greater success in highly complex situations. James was known for developing a station known for its credibility showing a strong interest in professional development programs. During his time as Station Commander in Kamenica James effectively developed individual, departmental and organizational goals to attain objectives keeping assertiveness and empathy in balance, demonstrating strong facilitation skills, effectively handling differing viewpoints skilfully, and refusing unreasonable demands when required. James always strived to make more meaningful and challenging contributions to the betterment of the station, developing a climate providing motivation, participation and opportunities for employee initiative.

Overall I would say James is fair, cheerful and follows businesslike procedures to accomplish objectives, recognising and accepting his personal limitations avoiding unrealistic promises. James possesses all the traits associated with excellence displaying a strong moral character demonstrating a commitment to core values and is highly regarded for his integrity and impeccable honesty. I would work with and for James any opportunity I could get. I respect him as a Police Officer and especially as a friend who can maintain a sense of humour when those around him are loosing theirs and will always be grateful to receive his infectious energising optimism.

I have worked with a number of American Police Officers during my career and James Van Beek is the only one I would ever recommend, endorse, support, and advocate you to have as your Sherriff. I wish him all the luck with his campaign.


Calvin Tonks
Police Sergeant
Ministry Of Defence Police
United Kingdom