HOOPER — Former Saguache sergeant Richard Pascoe, who served as both sergeant and lieutenant with the Saguache Sheriff’s Office for nine years, announced Monday that he will run against Sheriff Mike Norris on the Republican ticket.

Pascoe first served as a lieutenant under Sheriff Al King from 1996 to 2002. He then served as sergeant under Norris until he resigned to start his own business in 2006.

Pascoe and his wife Sandy live in Hooper with their children Charlie, 9, and Casey, 18.

Raised in the Valley and a graduate of Sangre de Cristo High School, Pascoe attended welding school and also worked as an over-the-road truck driver.

After receiving his police academy training at Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, he served with the Saguache Sheriff’s Office for a year as a reserve officer before hiring on as a deputy in 1996.

“I loved my job with the Sheriff’s Office but I had always wanted to try my hand at being self-employed,” Pascoe said. But Pascoe never really left police work. Since he began his own business, Pascoe says he has worked as a reserve officer for several local law enforcement agencies.

“I’m a pro-active guy,” Pascoe said. “If elected I would concentrate most on the drug problem and also go after those driving under the influence.” He especially hopes to establish law enforcement sponsored programs in the schools to help educate youth about drugs.

Pascoe also would like to involve people in a reserve capacity with the sheriff’s office and says that he would put himself on the same schedule as his deputies.

“Once a month I would like to hold community forums to let county residents know who I am, to bring trust back to the county.” Pascoe said. “The sheriff is the ultimate authority in the county and people need to know who he is.”

If elected Pascoe would like to train another investigator who would split his time between the road and his investigative work. The unsolved murder and missing person case currently on the books would be his first priority, Pascoe said.

He also would re-evaluate policies currently in place and make any changes he feels might need to be made.

Pascoe emphasized that his intention in running for election is to “focus on law enforcement, not play politics. I don’t have any friends and family in ‘high places.’”

Pascoe says he believes that another candidate will run for sheriff on the Republican ticket. And an Independent candidate also may announce soon.

He looks forward to candidate forums this year that will allow him to explain his law enforcement philosophy and meet county residents.