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Monterey County, CA June 8, 2010 Election
Smart Voter

Qualifications for Office

By Mike Kanalakis

Candidate for Sheriff/Coroner; County of Monterey

This information is provided by the candidate
My experience is built on a lifetime of public service: I have the formal education, professional training and experience to lead a major department with a 77 million dollar budget and offer trusted, professional, experienced leadership.
Education and Qualifications: My experience is built on a lifetime of public service: I have the formal education, professional training and experience to lead a major department with a 77 million dollar budget. I have worked my way up through the ranks (Deputy, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Commander, Sheriff) and offer trusted professional experienced leadership with a steady hand at the helm.

  • Captain, USAF, Combat Crew Commander & Squadron Commander (six years)
  • 33 years Monterey County Sheriff's Office, Sworn Peace Officer Commanding over 10 Divisions and Units in the Sheriff's Office including: Commander Special Unit (tactical)
Commander SWAT
Commander K-9 Unit
Commander Gang Unit
Commander Special Enforcement Unit
Commander Marijuana Eradication Unit
Commander Coroners Division
Commander Special Operations Division
Commander Sheriffs Salinas Central Patrol Station/
  • Chief of Police, Greenfield
  • Chairman Monterey County Child Death Review Team
  • Chairman Random Acccess Network Board
  • Chairman Criminal Justice Information Systems Replacement Committee
  • Chairman California State Sheriffs Financial Managers Committee
  • Monterey County Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Coordinator
  • Member Monterey County Grant Approval Authority
  • Member Monterey County Operational Area Coordinationg Council.
  • Outstanding Sheriffs Office Employee of the year 2000
  • Inducted into the American Police Hall of Fame 2003
  • Emergency planner appointed by the Governors Office of Emergency Services
  • Bachelors in Communications
  • Masters in Public Administration, Judicial Administration
  • Community College Teaching Credential
  • POST Executive Certificate
  • Graduate POST Executive Development Course
  • Graduate POST Supervisory Certificate
  • Graduate POST Management Certificate
  • Graduate FBI Academy LEEDS (Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar)

I spearheaded securing a countywide Gang Task Force, a new Bomb Squad, Agricultural Task Force, Canine detail, finger print and iris identification systems in the jail, online services, and delivered a balanced budget for seven straight years.

I have actively served on the the following committees:

  • Project Director, Monterey County Narcotic Task Force (NEUCOM)
  • Member Emergency Communications Users Advisory Council
  • Project Director, Monterey County Ag Task Force
  • Chairman, Monterey County Integrated Justice Information System Steering Committee
  • Member, California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System Strategic Planning Committee
  • Current Executive Steering Committee member, Enterprise Resource Planning ERP
  • Former Chairman/ current member, Monterey County Joint Gang Task Force Steering Committee*
  • Current Member, Monterey County Anti-Terrorism Approval Body (Grant Approval Authority)*
  • Current member, State Marijuana Task Force sponsored by California Police Chiefs Association
  • Current Member, Monterey County Law Enforcement Supplemental Oversight Committee
  • Member, Monterey County Child Abuse Prevention Council 2003 to 2010
  • Member, Community Alliance for Safety and Peace 2009 to 2010
  • Member, Monterey County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council 2003 to 2010
  • Member, Monterey County Chief Law Enforcement Officers Association 2003 to 2010
  • Member Board of Directors, California State Sheriffs Association 2005 to 2010
  • Committee Chairman, California State Sheriff's Financial Managers 2006 to 2010
  • Former Instructor, Administration of Justice, Monterey Peninsula College
  • Regional Chairman, South Bay Regional Training Consortium Advisory committee
  • Chairman, Monterey County RAN Board (Random Access Network) 2003 to 2010
  • Board of Directors, Monterey County Juvenile Impact Program 2004 to 2010
  • Member, Monterey County Operational Area Disaster Council 1998 to 2010
  • Ethics Instructor, Southbay Regional Police Academy

As Sheriff, I'll continue to stay close to the community. My vision is to eradicate gangs and gang violence, eliminate illicit drugs from our neighborhoods and schools, prevent school violence, better prepare our communities to deal with natual disasters and terrorist acts, and ensure better service to enhance the quality of life for everyone. I will continue the ten year plan I started.

Recently, Operation Knockout netted the arrest of 37 gang members in one day and 91 total after an eight month long investigation conducted by the state Bureau Of Narcotic Enforcement. This investigation is ongoing and with it came the commitment that Monterey County will now have a permanent presence from the state in the form of a new anti drug task force. This new task force will include the Sheriff's Office and local police agencies as well as state law enforcement personnel.

The gang task force continues to be our primary gang suppression arm against street gangs. Since it's creation in 2005 the task force has made more than 5,000 probation and parole searces, made over 2,800 arrests and taken hundreds of illegal guns of the streets.Operation Knockout is one of many such programs.

I am endorsed as the most qualified and trusted candidate by all three former Sheriffs: Sheriffs Gordon Sonne, Norm Hicks, and Bud Cook. I am also endorsed by those that know the finances of county government as the most experienced and fiscally responsible candidate. Lou Solton, Treasurer, Steve Vagnini, Assessor, and Mike Miller, Auditor Controller. As the most qualified candidate I offer experience, leadership, results, honesty, integrity, stability, and a plan for success. I humbly ask for your vote

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