Law Enforcement Groups Back White

They came Tuesday to support Colleen Toy White’s campaign for a Ventura County Superior Court judgeship: police chiefs, the county sheriff, probation officers and a dog named Duke.

Representatives from every major county law enforcement group attended a noon news conference to publicly pledge support for White’s judicial campaign. White, an assistant district attorney, is competing with criminal defense attorney James M. Farley for the only open seat on the county Superior Court bench in the June 7 election.

The most unusual backer was 4-year-old German shepherd Duke Von Inglishaus. Duke accompanied Ventura Police Sgt. Bob Velez, who is training the dog for duty on the K-9 unit.

During a brief speech, White thanked the officers for their support. White said she was especially appreciative of the backing from her four-legged friend.

On a more serious note, White said the endorsements from law enforcement should help her at the polls. “I think the people in this county respect what these men and women do,” White said in a later interview. “I’m just honored to have them support me.”

Farley said the groups endorsing White on Tuesday represent the opinion of top police brass and not “the cop on the street.”

“I’m proud of the support of all of the law enforcement officers who work the streets . . . . because they know and respect me for what I am,” Farley said.

White received endorsement from the heads of every police organization in the county and unions representing county sheriff’s deputies and police officers in Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Ventura.

Other endorsements came from Ventura County firefighters, corrections and probation officers and the state district attorneys investigators’ association.