If last week saw any political bombshells, it wasn’t McLennan County tax assessor-collector A.F. “Buddy” Skeen’s announcement he’s decided to switch political allegiance to the Grand Old Party. That’s getting to be old hat in a county that is resolutely red. But Sheriff Larry Lynch’s acknowledgement that he has no intention of seeking a fourth term in 2012 leaves some of us surprised, even a little unsettled.

Since his first election to the post in 2000, Lynch has been a consistent, dependable, low-key law enforcement chief, prone to staying out of the spotlight more than some sheriffs. And while he has the requisite cowboy hat that goes hand in hand with being a sheriff in Texas, Lynch has proved adept at embracing technology and tackling contemporary challenges in his many duties.

Through the years, he has argued for video visitations to allow inmates and their families greater interaction and to reduce the number of people on visitation days.

He voices pride in his environmental crimes unit, working with the city and battling illegal dumping in both Waco and the county. And he has made a strong case for more patrols in fast-growing areas outside Waco and a unit to work identification and computer crimes.

Yes, there have been rough patches, including a 2008 accusation by the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas that uniformed deputies were used to intimidate 60 or so members of the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office Association, primarily jailers, and undermine efforts to ensure job and benefits protection as top county officials then wrestled with jail expansion and the prickly idea of privatization.

Lynch could have handled such matters far better by being more transparent in the management of his department. Certainly we found him to be quite articulate when he actually chose to step up. And it’s obvious he knew his job, having spent two decades in the sheriff’s office before his election, rising to the post of administrative lieutenant. In three general elections, he won with more than 60 percent of the vote.

No law enforcement officer in this day and age is going to have an easy time of it. To his credit, Lynch won the respect of many of us for keeping his attention focused on the job to which we elected to him. He has quietly done his duty with little fuss. His departure will leave voters with a major decision regarding his replacement in 2012.