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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sheriff

Election Results

Candidate Votes Pct
Ozzie Knezovich (R) 103,412 70.92%
Doug Orr (R) 42,394 29.08%

* 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.

About The Race

Serves as the chief law enforcement officer in the county. The sheriff provides law enforcement coverage for the county’s unincorporated areas and several cities, including Spokane Valley, Deer Park and Medical Lake. In addition, the sheriff oversees emergency management and is the person in charge of dealing with natural disasters. The incumbent, Ozzie Knezovich, won big in the primary, but his opponent has the backing of the union that represents county deputies. Salary: $117,000.

The Candidates

Ozzie Knezovich

Party:
Republican
Age:
60
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

No charges for deputy in young cyclist’s fatal crash

Three separate investigations into the death of a 15-year-old bicyclist last May in Spokane Valley have determined that a speeding patrol car driven by a sheriff’s deputy did not strike the teen as preliminary reports suggested, the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday. Instead, investigators found that Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Bodman braked and swerved to the right, missing West Valley High School student Ryan Holyk – by as little as one foot – as Holyk and a friend crossed Sprague Avenue on bicycles about 10:30 p.m. May 23.

Deputy returns fire and shoots man, incident likely captured by officer body camera

A Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy shot a man tonight after the man fired at him, sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Mark Gregory said.

Investigation shows deputy did not strike teenage bicyclist who died

Three separate investigations into a May bicycling fatality have determined that the patrol car driven by Spokane County sheriff’s Deputy Joe Bodman did not strike 15-year-old bicyclist Ryan Holyk, according to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office.

Spokane Deputy Brian Hirzel fired for misusing patrol car

A Spokane County sheriff’s deputy cleared of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a Spokane Valley pastor in 2010 has been fired for improperly using county-owned vehicles. Brian Hirzel, of Hayden, was driving his patrol car to and from his home without permission, said Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich.

Pro-law enforcement rally draws 100 outside Spokane courthouse

No one said “Je suis Ahmed” or mentioned the recent unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, but the 100 people who gathered in the cold air and orange lamplight near the Spokane County Courthouse Friday evening were there to show support for law enforcement officers in troubled times. As organizers passed around candles and hand-warmers, conversation remained quiet until the occasional squad car pulled close and the crowd cheered. The lights on top of the vehicle would usually blaze in approval and move on, into the garage and back to work.

‘Constitutionalists’ protest at Spokane Valley Police Precinct

A protest spurred by a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy’s statement that angered self-described constitutionalists drew more than 300 people to the Spokane Valley Police Precinct parking lot Saturday afternoon. Many of those in attendance carried rifles, handguns or both. A series of speakers criticized Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich and called on him to give back the mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle (MRAP) that the department received for no cost as military surplus.

Smart Bombs: A constitutionalist context

Video shot at the Spokane Valley Mall shows a deputy explaining why the Sheriff’s Office needs a mine-resistant, military-style vehicle. He replies, “We’ve got a lot of constitutionalists and a lot of people that stockpile weapons, a lot of ammunition.” I’m not thrilled with the militarization of law enforcement, but I don’t believe the buildup is leading to an assault on law-abiding citizens. Law enforcement is increasingly afraid of the public and vice versa.

300 protest against deputy comment; activist says people should be ‘armed equal to the police’

A protest spurred by a Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy statement that angered self-described constitutionalists drew more than 300 people to the Spokane Valley Police Precinct parking lot Saturday afternoon.

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.

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.