Gregg, Kriete vie for votes in tight race for Grant County sheriff
Election features two veteran law officers.
Updated
Grant County sheriff candidates Darrik Gregg (left) and Joey Kriete.
EPHRATA — The race for Grant County sheriff between incumbent Joey Kriete and challenger Darrik Gregg pits two candidates from Moses Lake with substantial law enforcement experience who each affirm a commitment to public safety, accountability, and transparency.
In the August primary, Gregg narrowly outpolled Kriete by 105 votes, 5,839 – 5,734. A third candidate, sheriff’s sergeant Josh Sainsbury of Ephrata, finished with over 4,500 votes. How those votes will be distributed in the general election is unknown. Last month, Sainsbury declined to say publicly who he might support.
In Washington state, county sheriffs are responsible for crime prevention and investigations, serving warrants and other court orders, and responding to emergencies. In Grant County, the sheriff also oversees the jail and serves as the county’s director of emergency management, a non-police/non-corrections duty.
The sheriff currently receives an annual salary of $154,118 and manages an $18.5 million operational budget and a jail budget of nearly $10 million. Combined, the monies fund nearly 150 employees in units that include patrol, major crimes, narcotics, and motor traffic investigations along with corrections personnel and administrative support staff.
Gregg, 51, is a patrol sergeant with the Moses Lake Police Department. He began his law enforcement career in 2003 with the Royal City Police Department, joined the sheriff’s office as a deputy in May 2006, was later promoted to sergeant and then chief deputy in December 2016, overseeing emergency management, crisis response, and special operations. In addition to police work, he is currently pursuing a degree in business management.
Gregg has said he is running for sheriff “because I believe in strong, experienced leadership that puts public safety first, restores trust, and unites our diverse communities … Leadership is an action, not a position.”
In campaign messaging, Gregg described himself as “tough on crime while treating people with respect and dignity,” and that “accountability, integrity, and trust are my guiding principles and … the foundation of law enforcement.”
An Ephrata native, Kriete, 54, is a 33-year veteran of the sheriff’s office who was elected to an initial four-year term in 2022. He has previously served as chief deputy of both investigations and corrections and as a major crimes detective, patrol sergeant, traffic sergeant and collisions investigator. Kriete is also the president-elect in 2026-27 on the executive board of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
“Over the past three years, the men and women of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office have accomplished some truly great things,” he said. “Together, we’ve strengthened public safety, improved operations, invested in our people, and continued to build trust within the communities we serve.”
Both candidates have come under some scrutiny on separate issues.
This summer, guild/union-represented deputies participating in an anonymous vote expressed a lack of confidence in Kriete with some citing a “lack of respect and accountability” within the office.
Kriete has said the no-confidence message is “a significant expression of concern.” But Kriete also called the vote “vague” and without context, saying it involved 31 votes out of a staff of 147 employees. While he has received clarification on three or four issues, Kriete said there has been no response or feedback to his requests on a half-dozen other matters of concern.
Gregg, in turn, said he has been endorsed by the deputies association.
An issue clouding Gregg’s campaign has been a pending lawsuit filed in federal court by him and another former chief deputy, Dustin Canfield, following their resignations from the sheriff’s office in 2021.
In it, both allege they were subjected to retaliatory conduct by then-sheriff Tom Jones for raising concerns that Jones’ younger brother, chief deputy Ken Jones, misused leave time while also working for a private security firm in Seattle. Both Tom and Ken Jones strongly denied any impropriety, and subsequently retired from the office.
A jury trial scheduled to start this February was put on hold while pre-trial disputes are reviewed by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The lawsuit “is about accountability,” Gregg said this week. “I will not back down from that. I did the right thing.”
During a candidate forum in September, the two sparred over Kriete’s demotion of Sainsbury from chief deputy to a sergeant’s position after Sainsbury announced his candidacy in January.
“I couldn’t do that,” said Gregg.
Kriete said it was a personally difficult decision, but felt it was needed to retain trust among his administrative staff and in the best interests of the department and community.
At Wednesday night’s forum, the two candidates were asked whether they felt “therapeutic courts” make a difference in reducing drug use and repeated criminal behavior. Grant County District Court operates a Community Court, which involves placing selected participants in a minimum year-long, intensive rehabilitation program. The court celebrated its 24th graduate earlier that day.
Gregg said he was “not sure” about such programs and would want to talk to prosecutors and judges about the topic. He said opiates remain a problem and users who turn to crime can be “a revolving door” in the legal system.
Kriete also said opiates are “a serious problem,” but felt the local Community Court has been beneficial. There is a need, he said, to work with treatment providers, build trust with offenders, and “provide tools” that help them get better and reduce recidivism over time.
Both candidates share similar views on several topics currently facing law enforcement:
— Each opposed Senate Bill 5974, passed this spring by the state legislature’s Democratic majority and signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson. The measure would allow the Criminal Justice Training Commission to decertify sheriffs and force vacancies if they lost their peace officer certification or failed to meet other state standards. Gregg and Kriete were among those saying the bill undermines the sovereign decisions and choices of local voters. Earlier this month, a Thurston County Superior Court judge blocked the measure, saying it exceeded the legislature’s constitutional authority. The state Attorney General’s office is considering an appeal of the ruling to the state Supreme Court.
— Both strongly support use of Flock traffic surveillance cameras in appropriate locations, saying they have been a valuable tool for law enforcement in apprehending suspects accused of serious crimes. Both believe there are policies and procedures in place which safeguard their appropriate use without violating the privacy rights of individuals.
— Both said that Washington state law typically takes precedence for local police to follow in instances where enforcement may conflict with federal law. As an example, Gregg noted it’s legal for adults in this state to possess and use marijuana, which is not recognized at the federal level.
— Regarding immigration enforcement, both noted that the presence of an undocumented person in the U.S. is considered a civil violation under federal law, not a crime. Consequently, it would not be the role of local law enforcement to assist in taking someone into custody unless there is also evidence of related criminal activity.
In their campaigns, both Gregg and Kriete have each noted their respective participation in several outreach and community engagement programs.
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Gregg, Kriete vie for votes in tight race for Grant County sheriff
Election features two veteran law officers.
EPHRATA — The race for Grant County sheriff between incumbent Joey Kriete and challenger Darrik Gregg pits two candidates from Moses Lake with substantial law enforcement experience who each affirm a commitment to public safety, accountability, and transparency.
In the August primary, Gregg narrowly outpolled Kriete by 105 votes, 5,839 – 5,734. A third candidate, sheriff’s sergeant Josh Sainsbury of Ephrata, finished with over 4,500 votes. How those votes will be distributed in the general election is unknown. Last month, Sainsbury declined to say publicly who he might support.
In Washington state, county sheriffs are responsible for crime prevention and investigations, serving warrants and other court orders, and responding to emergencies. In Grant County, the sheriff also oversees the jail and serves as the county’s director of emergency management, a non-police/non-corrections duty.
The sheriff currently receives an annual salary of $154,118 and manages an $18.5 million operational budget and a jail budget of nearly $10 million. Combined, the monies fund nearly 150 employees in units that include patrol, major crimes, narcotics, and motor traffic investigations along with corrections personnel and administrative support staff.
Gregg, 51, is a patrol sergeant with the Moses Lake Police Department. He began his law enforcement career in 2003 with the Royal City Police Department, joined the sheriff’s office as a deputy in May 2006, was later promoted to sergeant and then chief deputy in December 2016, overseeing emergency management, crisis response, and special operations. In addition to police work, he is currently pursuing a degree in business management.
Gregg has said he is running for sheriff “because I believe in strong, experienced leadership that puts public safety first, restores trust, and unites our diverse communities … Leadership is an action, not a position.”
In campaign messaging, Gregg described himself as “tough on crime while treating people with respect and dignity,” and that “accountability, integrity, and trust are my guiding principles and … the foundation of law enforcement.”
An Ephrata native, Kriete, 54, is a 33-year veteran of the sheriff’s office who was elected to an initial four-year term in 2022. He has previously served as chief deputy of both investigations and corrections and as a major crimes detective, patrol sergeant, traffic sergeant and collisions investigator. Kriete is also the president-elect in 2026-27 on the executive board of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
“Over the past three years, the men and women of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office have accomplished some truly great things,” he said. “Together, we’ve strengthened public safety, improved operations, invested in our people, and continued to build trust within the communities we serve.”
Both candidates have come under some scrutiny on separate issues.
This summer, guild/union-represented deputies participating in an anonymous vote expressed a lack of confidence in Kriete with some citing a “lack of respect and accountability” within the office.
Kriete has said the no-confidence message is “a significant expression of concern.” But Kriete also called the vote “vague” and without context, saying it involved 31 votes out of a staff of 147 employees. While he has received clarification on three or four issues, Kriete said there has been no response or feedback to his requests on a half-dozen other matters of concern.
Gregg, in turn, said he has been endorsed by the deputies association.
An issue clouding Gregg’s campaign has been a pending lawsuit filed in federal court by him and another former chief deputy, Dustin Canfield, following their resignations from the sheriff’s office in 2021.
In it, both allege they were subjected to retaliatory conduct by then-sheriff Tom Jones for raising concerns that Jones’ younger brother, chief deputy Ken Jones, misused leave time while also working for a private security firm in Seattle. Both Tom and Ken Jones strongly denied any impropriety, and subsequently retired from the office.
A jury trial scheduled to start this February was put on hold while pre-trial disputes are reviewed by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The lawsuit “is about accountability,” Gregg said this week. “I will not back down from that. I did the right thing.”
During a candidate forum in September, the two sparred over Kriete’s demotion of Sainsbury from chief deputy to a sergeant’s position after Sainsbury announced his candidacy in January.
“I couldn’t do that,” said Gregg.
Kriete said it was a personally difficult decision, but felt it was needed to retain trust among his administrative staff and in the best interests of the department and community.
At Wednesday night’s forum, the two candidates were asked whether they felt “therapeutic courts” make a difference in reducing drug use and repeated criminal behavior. Grant County District Court operates a Community Court, which involves placing selected participants in a minimum year-long, intensive rehabilitation program. The court celebrated its 24th graduate earlier that day.
Gregg said he was “not sure” about such programs and would want to talk to prosecutors and judges about the topic. He said opiates remain a problem and users who turn to crime can be “a revolving door” in the legal system.
Kriete also said opiates are “a serious problem,” but felt the local Community Court has been beneficial. There is a need, he said, to work with treatment providers, build trust with offenders, and “provide tools” that help them get better and reduce recidivism over time.
Both candidates share similar views on several topics currently facing law enforcement:
— Each opposed Senate Bill 5974, passed this spring by the state legislature’s Democratic majority and signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson. The measure would allow the Criminal Justice Training Commission to decertify sheriffs and force vacancies if they lost their peace officer certification or failed to meet other state standards. Gregg and Kriete were among those saying the bill undermines the sovereign decisions and choices of local voters. Earlier this month, a Thurston County Superior Court judge blocked the measure, saying it exceeded the legislature’s constitutional authority. The state Attorney General’s office is considering an appeal of the ruling to the state Supreme Court.
— Both strongly support use of Flock traffic surveillance cameras in appropriate locations, saying they have been a valuable tool for law enforcement in apprehending suspects accused of serious crimes. Both believe there are policies and procedures in place which safeguard their appropriate use without violating the privacy rights of individuals.
— Both said that Washington state law typically takes precedence for local police to follow in instances where enforcement may conflict with federal law. As an example, Gregg noted it’s legal for adults in this state to possess and use marijuana, which is not recognized at the federal level.
— Regarding immigration enforcement, both noted that the presence of an undocumented person in the U.S. is considered a civil violation under federal law, not a crime. Consequently, it would not be the role of local law enforcement to assist in taking someone into custody unless there is also evidence of related criminal activity.
In their campaigns, both Gregg and Kriete have each noted their respective participation in several outreach and community engagement programs.
Gregg’s website is at www.dgregg4sheriff.com.
Kriete’s website is www.krieteforgcsheriff.com.