Spokane County Sheriff
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Ozzie Knezovich (R) | 64,435 | 72.25% |
| Doug Orr (R) | 24,748 | 27.75% |
* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.
The Candidates
Ozzie Knezovich
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 61
- City:
- Western Spokane County, Wash.
- Occupation:
- Spokane County sheriff
OZZIE KNEZOVICH
Education: Graduated from Rock Springs High School in Wyoming. Graduated from Weber State College with an integrated studies bachelor’s degree in 1985.
Work experience: Became town marshal in Superior, Wyoming in 1990. Joined Rock Springs, Wyoming police force in 1991. Joined Olympia Police Department in 1995. Joined Spokane County Sheriff’s Office as deputy in 1996. Became sergeant in 2004. Appointed Spokane County sheriff by county commissioners in 2006 and won election to the post in November of that year. Re-elected while unopposed in 2010.
Political experience: Former president of the Spokane County Deputy Sheriff’s Association. Former president of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Named to the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Association in 2008. Served as president of that group in 2012.
Military: U.S. Army airborne medical specialist and combat medic, served in Korea, 1987-90.
Family: Married, three grown children.
Doug Orr
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 58
- City:
- Spokane, WA
- Occupation:
- Spokane police detective
DOUG ORR
Education: Bachelor’s degree from Bob Jones University, 1987. Master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University, 2001. Doctorate in criminal justice from Washington State University, 2005. Masters of business in human resources from Saint Leo University, 2011.
Work experience: Spokane police detective assigned to sex abuse cases. Joined the Spokane force in 1996. Served previously in police department in Greenville, S.C., 1987-1992. Served in Idaho State Police, 1992-1996. Has taught graduate, undergraduate and distance learning classes through WSU Spokane.
Political experience: President of Idaho State Police Association, 1994. President of Fraternal Order of Police in Greenville, South Carolina, 1991.
Family: Married, two adult children.
Complete Coverage
Police investigating after alleged confrontation involving sheriff
A former Spokane County deputy undersheriff said he was chest bumped by Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich earlier this month outside a candidate forum in Northeast Spokane.
Doug Clark: Political pollution is grime against nature
Today we celebrate the winners of my Sign Gripe Contest, which rewards readers for picking the most hideous examples of real estate infected by campaign signs. Before getting to that, however, I would first like to name the contest’s undisputed loser.
Detectives searching for more victims in child luring case
Spokane County sheriff’s detectives are hoping to identify additional victims of a man arrested Friday for child luring and kidnapping.
Two face 201 counts in 40 Green Bluff burglaries
Two 21-year-olds were accused Thursday in a string of 40 Green Bluff burglaries. Trever J. Burzic and Damian A. Zowal face 201 felonies after sheriff’s officials say they broke into rural homes while no one was home to steal $100,000 worth of guns and jewelry to fuel a drug habit.
Knezovich, police ombudsman Tim Burns discussing county role
Depending on whom you ask, the timing of Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich’s request for the Spokane police ombudsman to assume a similar role for the county may be perfect, or politically motivated. Discussions between Knezovich and Tim Burns, the man who’s conducted internal reviews of police cases since 2008, have ramped up in recent weeks to formalize a long-standing relationship between the two agencies, the two men said. Knezovich said his pitch to county commissioners Tuesday morning is the culmination of months of discussions he’s had with Burns and the Center for Justice to develop an oversight structure of the department similar to the one in place at the city.
Spokane County sheriff candidates Q&A
Spokane County sheriff candidates were allowed 50 words to respond to each of five questions. Their responses are listed in the order the candidates appear on the ballot. How should the county address jail crowding?
Q&A: Spokane County sheriff candidates Ozzie Knezovich and Doug Orr
Spokane County sheriff’s candidates were allowed 50 words to respond to each of five questions. Their responses are listed in the order they appear on the ballot.
Republican incumbents carry the day in local races
A slate of inconsequential primaries delivered results Tuesday night as both candidates in a number of two-person races moved forward to November’s general election with a better idea of where their support lies. It was a night for incumbents in the Republican Party as state Sen. Michael Baumgartner, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich and state Rep. Matt Shea all took commanding leads of at least 10 percentage points over their opponents. In the largest spread, Knezovich walloped his challenger, Doug Orr, besting him by 33,000 votes of just 74,000 cast in early returns.
Another big storm slams into region
Another strong thunderstorm hit the northern parts of Spokane and Spokane County on Saturday evening, downing trees and power lines and sparking many brush fires. Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said Saturday evening that every resource available in Spokane County Fire District 4 was out fighting fires and resources from other districts were coming to the district’s assistance.
Sheriff’s race centers on jail debate
Debate over the need for a new Spokane County Jail has become a key issue in this year’s campaigns for sheriff and county commissioner after a candidate in the sheriff’s race produced a radio ad pegging the potential cost at $300 million. Doug Orr, who is challenging incumbent Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, has won the endorsement of former Sheriff Mark Sterk. In a radio ad, Sterk says, “Now is not the time to be promoting a $300 million jail.”
Sheriff: Deputy fired for overbilling Best Buy for security work
A Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy was fired this week after he billed a local business for work he didn’t do, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said Tuesday. Deputy Charles “Chuck” Sciortino left his post at Best Buy on Black Friday to work patrol but billed the store for a full 12-hour shift, Knezovich said.
Spokane sheriff’s deputy fired for misconduct
Spokane County sheriff’s Deputy Charles Sciortino was fired Monday following an investigation into allegations he worked an extra job while on duty.
Hospital gunman in murder-suicide was a former cop
The man who shot his wife to death before killing himself on the Deaconess Hospital campus had worked as a police officer in Missouri and told sheriff’s deputies just hours before this week’s fatal attack that he was thinking about returning to law enforcement if he couldn’t save his marriage, documents show.
Sheriff’s Detective under investigation for hunting violation
A Spokane County Sheriff’s Office detective is facing criminal charges in Stevens County for a hunting violation in 2013. Property crimes detective Dave Herrin has been placed on paid administrative leave and an internal investigation will begin this week, said Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich.
Sheriff issues memo addressing arbitrator sex-on-duty ruling
Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich reiterates that having sex while on duty and lying during investigations are fire-able offenses in an office memo released to media outlets Wednesday.
Shawn Vestal: Sheriff giving high standards another last chance
So, if you’re ever pulled over or interrogated for any reason by Spokane County Deputy Scott Kenoyer, you know what you should say? Whatever you want.
Arbitrator reinstates deputy who had sex while on duty
A Spokane sheriff’s deputy fired for having sex on duty has been reinstated by a state arbitrator. Deputy Scott Kenoyer will have to sign a last-chance disciplinary agreement to get his job back along with back pay. The agreement will essentially put him on probation for two years, during which time he could be fired if he has any new disciplinary problems.
Deputies endorse Douglas Orr in sheriff race against Ozzie Knezovich
The Spokane County Deputy Sheriffs Association on Thursday announced its endorsement of Douglas Orr over Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich in this year’s race for the county’s top law enforcement official. Orr, a Spokane police detective, is expected to file to run for sheriff against Knezovich, and the two Republicans already have met in one debate.
Spokane County Jail is overcrowded and falling apart
Spokane County’s 28-year-old jail is showing its age. Water collects on the floor in the basement kitchen because drains don’t work. Doors to the walk-in coolers are jammed. The subfloor is failing. Elevators are touch-and-go.
Sheriff, Spokane Police Department hard-pressed to keep up staffing levels
When police detectives and public information officers are told to put on a uniform and hit the streets in a patrol car, it’s evident that staffing levels are a concern. Both the Spokane Police Department and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office are hiring as quickly as they can, but they’re held back by the 18 months it takes to get a new recruit on the streets and a single police academy in the state that hasn’t expanded its class sizes in years.