Lane County Sheriff Carl Wilkerson is running in a 2026 uncontested race, but provided written answers to questions from Lookout about criminal justice issues:

Name: Carl E. Wilkerson III 

Age: 51

Residence (city): Creswell

Education: BS Degree, Bushnell University

Occupation: Sheriff 

Prior elected experience: None

Family status: Married, three children

Key endorsements: Former Sheriff Harrold, Former Sheriff Trapp, DA Parosa, Eugene Police Employees Association, Lane County Peace Officers Association, Springfield Police Officers Association

What are some important trends about crime that you’ve observed?

I feel as though some areas of Lane County are suffering from thefts and other livability crimes because it is known that we don’t have an adequate number of patrol deputies to respond to calls for service. Also, for the same reason there is little traffic safety enforcement. Lane County is consistently in the top three Oregon Counties for fatal car crashes and serious injuries.  

For the sheriff’s office, what has been or can be done in response? 

The Sheriff’s Office has many contracts and grants to help supplement the under-resourced patrol staff. These contracted deputies help as force multipliers when significant incidents occur, like forest fires. However, these contracts are paid for a specific purpose, and they can’t be used for day-to-day calls, unless there is an active emergency. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office has great working relationships with our other area law enforcement partners, and we often work together to address problems which do not adhere to jurisdictional lines of responsibility.

Marion County recently confirmed ICE officers arrested two men in their county courthouse. How would you respond if informed by ICE that its officers intended to arrest someone inside the Lane County courthouse? 

I am unable by law to interfere with or assist in immigration enforcement matters. By Oregon law, it is unlawful to cooperate or assist in immigration enforcement, unless there has been judicial review. It is also unlawful to interfere with Federal Investigations or Enforcement. ICE Officials are only able to enter locations that the public itself can enter unless they have a warrant to do so. I, as well as the other Oregon Sheriffs, have communicated the community’s concerns with ICE Leadership. 

How do community concerns about immigration enforcement and the state’s sanctuary laws affect cooperation by the sheriff’s office with federal law enforcement? 

The Sheriff’s Office has worked with various Federal Law Enforcement agencies for years and has great partnerships to help protect our community. One example of this is our working relationship with the FBI in our Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce. One thing we have had to do is to express our inability to assist with any immigration enforcement activities and to ensure that when we are working on a joint investigation there are no immigration ties to it.   

How do you ensure that the sheriff’s office is a good place to work?

The culture at the Sheriff’s Office is amazing.  We have many health and wellness initiatives to improve the financial, spiritual, physical and mental health of our team. I will continue these practices, and I will encourage our staff to work to improve these by giving them a voice in new initiatives and improvements in existing programs. Our team is selfless in their willingness to serve, and they all have an internal drive to serve our community. I could not be prouder of the men and women who make our team, from paid employees to the many volunteers who make up our various programs.  

Please name an issue of concern in Oregon’s justice system that you believe can be improved. How might it be made better?

I think the idea behind the bail reform law was not bad, but the implementation of it has been less successful than desired. I would like to see legislative changes to this measure to make certain that violent criminals and those who prey on our most vulnerable populations are not released from custody pending adjudication, without further restrictions and hearings to ensure they have less of a chance of victimizing others.