With the decision of Gov. Paul LePage to appoint Kennebec County’s chief deputy to replace former Sheriff Randall Liberty, people should know about Sheriff Ryan Reardon.

Reardon, with the sheriff’s office since 2007 and chief deputy since 2012, started as a reserve officer with the Dexter police.

From 1996 to 2007, he was a police officer in Waterville, becoming a narcotics investigator and drug recognition expert. He continued law enforcement education at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, and began a B.S. degree program in law enforcement administration.

In 2007 he was recruited by Liberty to become a patrol officer. Reardon quickly climbed through the ranks because of his ability to tackle problems. Becoming a detective in Major Crimes, Narcotics, within two months he conducted investigations of drug activities leading to numerous convictions over the next three years.

In 2010 Reardon became a sergeant in the department’s office of professional review conducting internal reviews maintaining the integrity of the sheriff’s office. He was promoted to lieutenant and assistant jail administrator, managing operations of the county jail.

Promoted to major and chief deputy in 2012, for 14 months he was assigned 50 percent of the chief deputy’s position while also doing the work in his lieutenant’s position — and refused to accept extra pay to which he was entitled. As chief deputy, he had oversight of all five divisions in the department, all operations, and the $10 million budget.

Reardon became the interim sheriff last September when Liberty was appointed warden at the Maine State Prison. The governor’s appointment confirms that Reardon is the sheriff through Jan. 1, 2017, pending a special election this November to fill the remaining two years of Liberty’s term.

Ryan Reardon has announced his candidacy for that election. He will be a great sheriff.

Richard Davies

Hallowell