Well, we know one thing: Unless Phil Mask changes his mind, and it doesn’t sound like that is likely, Saline County will have a new High Sheriff come Jan. 1, 2009.
Mask announced Friday that he will not seek re-election next year. He said he will complete his fourth term and then spend more time with his family while he weighs his employment options.
Mask has his loyal supporters and he has his fervent detractors. There’s no question about that. So while the decision by the Benton native and Bryant resident was surely met with disappointment by some, others had to consider it a dandy holiday gift.
The sheriff’s tenure has been laced with controversy, and we have at times been highly critical of Mask. We believe the criticism was justified and we likely wouldn’t change a word that was written. But for anyone expecting us to pile on, now that Mask has decided to move on, we’re not going to do that. It’s not necessary. It serves no purpose.
We will say, however, that we, like many in this county, believe the sheriff’s department needs new leadership and direction. It is not the job of a sheriff to divide the population base or to create such autonomy that other departments within the county and other law enforcement agencies continually express frustration over an inability to develop a working relationship with the sheriff’s office. And that is precisely what happened.
Mask has done a number of good things as sheriff and we have said that on several occasions. His department has made significant strides in the ongoing battle against methamphetamine. His department was in the forefront in the quest to rid the Internet of sexual predators. Mask was successful in providing his deputies with equipment that has helped ensure the safety of both themselves and the public. And there are other examples of success.
Unfortunately, as is often the case, the bad has shadowed the good. Things got so bad, in fact, that the Quorum Court gave Mask a vote of “no confidence,” a development that Mask and his loyalists attempted to blame on politics. That caused division among Mask’s Republican Party in the county.
Mask’s hand was slapped by the judicial system when he sold confiscated firearms to raise money for public programs like assistance for crime victims. He essentially defied the courts and sold the firearms.
The debacles of the past election season may have been the final straw for many people who were previously indifferent in their support of the sheriff. Mask won the election, in large part because other elected officials got caught up in the heat of the moment and caused 11th-hour damage to the momentum of opponent Don Birdsong’s campaign.
Generally, people who oppose Mask remain baffled over the fact that his department has been allowed to gain what they call unrealistic autonomy. His critics maintain that Mask and his department have gone out of their way often to be uncooperative. The critics refer to a bunker mentality.
OK. It sounds now as if we might be piling on, but we aren’t. We’re merely pointing out facts about Mask’s tenure. He has been a most controversial elected official and it would be silly to ignore or overlook that fact. For better or worse, his tenure as sheriff will be remembered more by controversy. It seems unavoidable.
So what does the future hold for Mask after his fourth and apparently final term expires? Not sure. There has been widespread speculation that he is interested in becoming the police chief at Bryant. When asked about that by a reporter, Mask neither confirmed nor denied any such interest. He said simply that he is keeping his options open.
Whatever Mask decides to do, we wish him well. And we look forward to a new and refreshing direction for Saline County’s law enforcement agency.

 Today’s editorial was written by Whit Jones, editor of the Courier, on behalf of the newspaper’s editorial board.
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