Hemet Police Chief Dave Brown has announced his intention to challenge Riverside County Sheriff Stan Sniff in the 2018 election.

Brown announced his plan to run on Sept. 18, saying, “The people of Riverside County can no longer tolerate a sheriff who repeatedly blames his deputies and the Board of Supervisors for his failure of leadership. It’s time to put people first again and take politics out of the Sheriff’s Department.”

Brown, 51, is a Hemet High School graduate and has been Hemet police chief since 2011, and will remain so until the end of the year.

Brown was behind Measure U, which raised the Hemet sales tax for more money for public safety, police and fire. Measure U was passed in November after a similar attempt, Measure E, was defeated in June.

The sheriff is elected by all the voters in the county, but supervisors are already taking sides. On Thursday, Sept. 21, Brown announced that 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington has already endorsed his election.

In Brown’s press release, he quotes Washington: “This county needs a sheriff who is willing to work with the board and his deputies to solve complex problems. Chief Brown has a proven track record on both fronts and that’s why I’m supporting him for sheriff in 2018.”

Sniff was appointed sheriff in 2007, after the resignation of then-Sheriff Robert Doyle. He was elected to a full four-year term in 2010 and re-elected in 2014.